MOOSE JAW — “If you told me six months ago I would be receiving this, I would tell you you’re crazy,” Jesse Lesperance said, adding “let alone two colleges making offers.”
Lesperance a member of the Moose Jaw AA Canucks, has just signed a commitment to play baseball for the Kent State Tuscarawas starting this fall. He will play out of Kent State’s New Philadelphia campus.
“It feels really good,” Lesperance said, explaining that in his Moose Jaw baseball career, there have been plenty of times he felt passed over by some coaches.
For the 18-year-old Peacock Collegiate student, “it felt great to see other coaches saw value in me.”
At present he is unaware if the agreement is for a roster spot or if it will include a scholarship as well.
Lesperance is scheduled to take a four-year university degree in construction management.
Without the offers out there, he admitted he would be taking a two-year college trades course. The roster offering will now see Lesperance take a four-year university degree.
Lesperance says he is hopeful so long as he preforms, there may well be scholarship funds available.
Lesperance’s love affair with baseball began when he was about nine years old, and his grandma used to play catch with him, getting him interested in the game.
From there he has spent nine seasons combined playing little league and then jumping into the Moose Jaw Minor Baseball Association’s Canuck system.
A key figure for Lesperance is Moose Jaw Miller Express’s coach Eric Marriott, who has allowed Lesperance the opportunity to field balls before games.
The practice has added to his game.
Lesperance said he would like to thank the Pisio family for their help and encouragement to help make his dreams come true.
Asked if he would like to play baseball professionally, Lesperance said one of his dreams is to play baseball at college in the United States and then, during the summer, come back and play for the Moose Jaw Miller Express.
This will be Lesperance’s final season with the U18 AA Canucks.
