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mom someA Mother's Love Teapot Bouquet by TelefloraA colourful spring bouquet and a cheerful ceramic teapot with a nest of bluebirds -what mother could resist?It’s a gift she’ll adore, and display proudly all year (j long. For delivery almost j anywhere in Canada or 1 the U.S., just call or visit our shoo.Mother sand Leonard at the familyKoskie has a rich athletic tradition in the Eastman areaGIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLELocated 3 miles south on 302 and 1 1/4 miles eastSigns will be postedRHlCtBY MARK T. BUSSAfter being called up briefly at the end of last season, Corey Koskie did what he said he was going to do - make the opening day roster of the Minnesota Twins.That's one thing about baseball, Koskie said from his Minnesota apartment, as long as you get your hits and keep putting the numbers up, you can play somewhere.After attending his fifth major league spring training camp this year, Koskie impressed enough to earn a spot on the big roster and hopes to stick for the entire season.The 6-foot 3-inch, 220-pound Anola product had a productive but exhausting season last year with the AAA Salt Lake City Buzz of the Pacific Coast League. While out west, he hammered the ball for the Twins top farm team and led the club in runs, hits, total bases, homeruns and RBIs while batting .301.Called up to the ’show' inSeptember, Koskie started two games and worked his way into a number of others staying with the club for the remainder of the season.Although the season is young, the threat of being sent down to the minors is prevalent, but something Koskie wants to wipe clean from the mind of manager Tom Kelly.I don't think there ismuch left for me to prove in the minors, Koskie said, adding the managerial staffcontinue to point at his defensive skills as a possible weak link.There are many variables, but wc work on defence a lot, he said. I'm going to keep working at it until sending me down is not an option.Koskie is part of a youth movement for the Twins asthey have 10 rookies on thesquad, Koskie said, adding besides himself getting the odd game at the DH and third base, regular starters include a freshman first baseman, short stop and left and centre fielders.As athletes want to every game possible, Koskie says that sitting every other contest can be difficult. Manager Tom Kelly is notorious for keeping younger players on the bench, but Koskie is learning to accept his role with the club.In his mind, he wants to win, but also to give players the best opportunity to succeed, Koskie said. As long as I get my hits, I'll be fine.If there’s one thing Koskie is doing, it’s hitting the ball, and he’s hitting it with authority. At press time, Koskie is eight for 24 in the 10 games he has appeared in and has a batting average of.333. Of those hits, he hastwo homeruns and two doubles for a whopping slugging percentage of .667. He is also is second on the teamresident accepts role on and off' the field■.Photos courtesy of the Minneapolis Star TribuneCorey Koskie being congratulated by teammates after a spring training homerunwith 10 RBI.As far as becoming a provincial icon with local media hanging on every game and the sale of Twins apparel reportedly on the rise, Koskie is taking the attention he has garnered at home with a grain of salt. At the same time, he feels if he can be a positive role model to local youth, it is a role he will gladly accept. The attention is nice, but I hope it doesn't get to be tw) much, Koskie said. Baseball is such an up and down game, I don't think you can pull it apart on a day to day basis.However, if I can benefit kids down the line and get them talking about baseball instead of other things that can get them into trouble, then it is a good thing. Ifkids can get off the streets or quit hanging around the 7-11 because I'm a ball player, then I'm glad.Koskie also believes kids shouldn't limit themselves in sports or in life. He played goal for the Eastman Selects and the Selkirk Steelers and always thought hockey might be his ticket to at least a college scholarship. When that fell through, as did the opportunity for volleyball, he went to Iowa to simply play baseball without any funding assistance. While there, the former Elmwood Giants standout found his game and was drafted by the Twins in the 26th round in 1994.Koskie said he returned to visit his parents Mary-Annefarm in Anola during the off season and went through some of the press clippings that have come his way. In one, where he was named Manitoba High School Athlete of the Week, he’s quoted as saying he was going to pursue either hockey or volleyball and that baseball was never going to happen.During that time, I had some coaches tell me to play one sport to focus my energy because I had a better chance of winning the lottery than to make it to the big leagues, Koskie said.Someone upstairs must be looking out for me because if I took that advice, who knows what I would be doing now.
Newspaper Details
Beausejour Review
Beausejour, Manitoba, CA
Mon, Apr 26, 1999
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
Lisa A.
CA 27 Jan 2019
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