Past East Nepean Little League World Series pitcher eager for return to top national stage

Angus Adams. Photo provided

By Martin Boyce

Handling the pressure and excitement of representing his province will be nothing new for Angus Adams come the 2017 Canada Summer Games.

A past Canadian champion with the East Nepean Eagles, the 2013 Little League World Series competitor is excited to relive some of his best baseball memories.

“This is probably the biggest thing I’ve done in a long time,” reflects the 17-year-old pitcher who also plays the outfield for the Ottawa-Nepean Canadians. “I was very proud of the accomplishment and I’m glad I’m going to get to represent Ontario at such a stage.”

Adams played his first Little League game at age 7. Fortunate enough to play for a strong team in the perfect age group, he was the starting pitcher for East Nepean in the national final as they earned the right to play as Team Canada in storied Williamsport, PA.

“It was truly a breathtaking experience,” recalls Adams, who cranked 2 home runs and started games against Taiwan and Panama during the tournament. “Not only do you get to see all the different baseball, but you get to see a bit of the different cultures. It’s really a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

With all the time on the road in 2013, Adams managed to memorize all the rosters and positions for each Major League Baseball team, to the delight of Washington Post reporters who eagerly gave him a pop quiz.

“Don’t ask me to do it now however,” he quips in his Canada Games bio.

While Adams doesn’t think of himself as an overpowering pitcher, he says he believes he can out-smart hitters by mixing his pitches well. When he isn’t on the mound, Adams says he good all-around, but speed is the defining aspect of his game.

Headed into his senior year, the Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School student is focused on “getting better everyday” and eventually playing university baseball stateside or in Canada while ensuring he can pursue whatever degree he wants on top of playing the game he loves.

Adams says his father’s support and wisdom on the sport has helped him stay grounded through the trying times.

“It’s a sport of failure. When stuff hasn’t been going great, my dad’s always been there to remind me that I play this sport for fun,” explains the 6’1” right-hander. “He always tells me, ‘If it ended today, it wouldn’t matter at all because you’ve already accomplished all you wanted to.’”