If you’ve never caught a Moncton Mets game before, it’s the perfect season.
The first home game for the members of the New Brunswick Senior Baseball League is on Sunday at Kiwanis Park. The team will battle the Saint John Alpines.
“We have a lot more depth this year. We regrettably saw Luke Robison move to Halifax — he is the only player not back from our 2024 roster — but we definitely have upgrades from guys that have moved to the area with a lot of baseball experience,” General Manager Mark Shaddick says.
This is year two since the team returned to the traditional Moncton Mets name, and Shaddick says the community loved the return.
“The original Mets were inducted into the Moncton Sports Wall of Fame and the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame, so it brought a lot of pride back to the community, which was great,” he says.
“We also had a really successful year. We lost to Charlottetown in game six of the finals last year, but the crowds were wonderful. The support was definitely behind us.”
The goal for this year is to go all the way, to represent New Brunswick at the national championships next summer. They’ll be held at the park in Chatham, and Shaddick says Miramichi is his hometown.
“It’s a great event. It was last held in Chatham in 2019. They had 6,000 people there for the final game, so it’s a lot of excitement, a lot of high-quality professional baseball,” Shaddick expressed.
The Mets will take on teams from Saint John, Fredericton, Chatham and Charlottetown this season.
For those who have never been to a Moncton Mets game before, Shaddick says it’s worth the trip to Kiwanis Park.
“Anyone that’s really new to coming to watch senior baseball in New Brunswick will find the calibre high compared to single A in the professional level. A lot of former college players are in it, and they still want to compete, and they have a lot of pride in their game and their team. So it’s a very well-organized ball and it’s always evolving,” Shaddick explained.
If you’re looking for tickets, they can be purchased at Kiwanis Park. Season tickets are also available.
Fans will also get the opportunity to show up early, once the gates are unlocked, and you’ll be able to watch batting practice from both teams.
“Come down and support the team this year. We’ve got a great product and we’re really making a run for it this year,” Shaddick stressed
