When Mike McKay stepped up to the plate as a member of the St. Clair College Saints men's baseball team, opposing teams knew the All-Star would be a tough out.
McKay played for the Saints in 2017 and 2019, graduating from St. Clair College with diplomas in Power Engineering and Plumbing Techniques.
He's since moved back to his original home in Miramichi, N.B., where he now plays centrefield and first base for that province's senior men's team, the Chatham Ironmen.
But this week, the slugger has a chance to return to his old stomping grounds - Tecumseh's Bert Lacasse Park - for the Senior Men's National Championships from Aug. 22 to 25, where 10 teams are vying for the national title.
"I can't wait for the nice experience and to re-live my time in Windsor and Tecumseh all over again," said McKay, who as a member of the Chatham Ironmen won the National Championship in his home province back in 2019.
"To repeat that this year would be amazing, especially at a second home field to me. It'd be something to remember for a long time," said McKay.
Bert Lacasse Park - though always quaint - looks quite different from when McKay last played ball there.
The Town of Tecumseh, with investment from the federal government and Ontario Trillium Foundation, recently spent $3.4 million upgrading the facility, replacing the grandstand and backstop, installing new changerooms, and renovating the entrance plaza and parking lot.
St. Clair College chipped in with $250,000 for the dugouts and the St. Clair College Alumni Association provided $50,000 to restore the outfield scoreboard. The Tecumseh Thunder also invested money, as Lacasse Park is the home diamond for both the Thunder and the Saints.
"There's a piece of everybody in Tecumseh in this stadium, probably one of the top five stadiums in all of Canada," said Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara after the opening ceremonies.
McKay feels the same way. This is his first time playing at Bert Lacasse Park since he was a member of the Saints team in 2019, calling the upgraded facility "beautiful."
"Looking at it now, it's amazing," McKay said. "To see baseball evolve and grow here, it's awesome to see."
During McKay's tenure with the Saints, the team pocketed an OCAA gold medal in 2017 and a bronze medal in 2019. The 2017 Saints squad also won the national collegiate championship.
Over 36 games with the Saints, McKay hit for a .316 average, swiping 17 bases, and posting a career .888 OPS. In the 2019-2020 campaign, McKay was dazzling in the outfield, boasting a perfect fielding percentage.
During the Senior Nationals tournament, McKay will also get the chance to play against former teammate and current head coach of the Saints, Roberto Duncan, who was an assistant coach when McKay last donned the green and gold.
On Saturday, Aug. 24 at 11 a.m., McKay's New Brunswick squad squares off against the hosting Tecumseh Thunder, and Duncan will be playing first base.
"It's going to be interesting. You know, we never had the opportunity to compete against each other," said Duncan. "I know his strengths. I know his weaknesses. All I can do is just pass it along to our teammates."
"When we play them (Saturday), he's going to be enemy, but he'll always be a friend."
McKay will use this opportunity to catch up with some former teammates and coaches off the field, while maintaining his competitive spirit on the diamond.
"It's going to be interesting to be playing against them, and I'm kind of rooting for (Tecumseh Thunder) to have a good tournament," said McKay with a smile on his face. "But the same time, I hope maybe they take it a little bit easy on me."
Now 27, McKay works for the federal government in the payroll department at Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
While he's established his home in New Brunswick, McKay looks back at his time at St. Clair College fondly.
"St. Clair was a wicked school, and I learned a lot here, matured a lot here," he said. "I recommend it to anybody looking for an education, or even just somewhere to come back and extend their ball career."
"It's a great spot and a great culture of winning."
St. Clair College, the St. Clair College Alumni Association and the Saints Student Athletic Association are the presenting sponsors of the tournament.
For more information on the 2024 Senior Men's Baseball National Championships, click here.
