Several products of The Baseball Academy preceded Parker Savard in making their way south of the border, pursuing post-secondary opportunities on the diamonds.
Few enjoyed the success of the long-time Valley East native, a man committed to a pursuit of both baseball and hockey in his youth, officially drafted by the Sudbury Wolves in the U18 OHL Draft in 2018.
Spring-boarding from a short (year and a half) but successful run with the Dakota County Technical College Blue Knights at a junior college level, Savard secured a scholarship with the Saint Cloud State Huskies in Minnesota thanks to some eye-popping stats at the lower level: .342 batting average; .449 on-base percentage; leading his conference in runs (33), doubles (9) and walks (14).
As he now tackles his fourth and final year of NCAA eligibility with a first ever trip to Central Regionals in Missouri, the 22 year old Health and Physical Education major thinks first and foremost of those who have made this ride all the more enjoyable.
“The culture with the group of guys that I have been around the past five years, on both teams – they have just been so very welcoming,” he said. “They made everything such an easy transition.”
Because as so many have come to find out before him, for as much as baseball in the nickel city is improving each and every year, it is still a different animal completely, south of the border.
Thankfully, Savard had at least one ace in his pocket as he made the trek to the American Midwest. “My defensive work,” he stressed, asked about his greatest source of pride. “The work that I put in with J-G (Larocque) at the Academy in the off-season, the work with Rick Kilganon (a pretty fair baseball player in his own right, back in the day) set me up for success on the field when it came to just going out there and playing baseball.”
That defensive element would be key as Savard found himself splitting time between second and third base with the Huskies, a mix that is generally viewed as being far tougher to master than combining the middle infield positions (2B and SS) together. “You really have to adjust to how much quicker the balls are hit at you at third base, especially at this level,” said Savard.
“You don’t really have time to think. It’s just kind of reaction based.”
Despite an up and down regular season, Savard and company really got on a roll at the 2023 NSIC (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) Tournament this spring. Seeded fourth entering the event, the Huskies disposed of the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs (#5) 10-3 in round one and then upset the top-ranked Augustana Vikings 10-1 as pitcher Sam Riola carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning.
On Saturday, Saint Cloud rallied late to better the Minnesota State – Mankato Mavericks 7-3 to earn their spot in the championship tilt in the double knockout competition. That extra life would come in handy as the Mavericks battled their way back into the top half of the bracket, edged the Huskies 6-5 in game one on Sunday before St Cloud State rallied with a 13-7 win.
“We really came together as a team,” said Savard. “During the year, there were times that we were pitching really well and couldn’t hit, or we were hitting really well but couldn’t pitch. Last weekend, we played more as a team.”
“One through nine – actually, one through fifteen with our positions players, guys were coming through in clutch situations, guys coming off the bench. Everyone on our pitching staff is pitching the heck out of the ball, filling up the strike zone.”
The Huskies will need more of that at Regionals, seeded eighth in a grouping that qualifies only eight teams. Come next week, Parker Savard will give a little more thought as to what exactly life holds in store, post graduation.
“I am in limbo,” he said. “There are some teaching positions back home and some in the Minnesota area. This will take a little more thinking. I have been focused on finishing up in school and playing some baseball.”
And while his playing days may be a little more limited, his time on the diamonds might not.
“I would like to pick up where I left off with J-G this summer (coaching Sudbury Voyageurs),” said Savard. “I would like to stay in baseball and also get into some hockey coaching as well."
