Jim Barnick lived the high life Monday. He was able to do the two things he loves most in this world in the same day—fishing in the morning, with baseball coming in the afternoon.
Barnick, from Hollywood, Fla., is an angler competing in the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship later this week. But with a lengthy background in baseball, he also came out to VanJura Stadium here Monday to help the Fort Frances All-Stars with their practice.
“Anything I can do to help the kids out is always a positive experience for me,” said Barnick, who attended college on a baseball scholarship and then was signed by the Minnesota Twins organization as a free agent—playing a year in the minor leagues with the Fort Myers Twins.
“And just being fortunate enough in having played baseball my whole life and being able to pass on things is always an enjoyable experience,” he added.
Shoulder surgery at 22 brought a halt to Barnick’s big-league dreams and fishing slowly has been taking its place.
“I’m trying to mix them both up. I enjoy being out here with the kids and we did get a chance to fish today [Monday],” said Barnick, who was on the lake with his partner, Dave Garber, early in the morning until 3 p.m., and then came to the all-stars’ practice at 4.
The under-12 team is preparing for the Can-Am Little League tournament in Thunder Bay this weekend, which will feature some high-calibre competition from Canada and the northern States.
Barnick got wind of the team through their coach, Clint Barton, who also is an FFCBC angler and has been pulling triple duty shuffling his fishing schedule with his coaching duties and his job as a detective for the Fort Frances OPP.
“I’ve been running on very little sleep. I’m tired and I’m hot, and I fished all [Monday] morning. I left at six and got off the water because it was too hot,” said an exhausted Barton, who has been a baseball coach for four years and has competed in every FFCBC since the tournament’s inception in 1995.
“It’s very, very difficult to spread my time,” he added. “But I’ve got some people helping me and we’ve recruited Jim Barnick and we’re very glad to have him out here today [Monday].”
Barnick, with his playing experience as a shortstop and second baseman, instructed the 10 players on hand (11 will be going to the tournament) in an array of drills that focused on hitting and fielding.
“He’s been helping us with shortstop and seconds base. He really knows what he’s talking about and he’s really, really good,” said 10-year-old Tom Anderson.
Barnick, in his second year at the FFCBC, doesn’t feel time spent on the ball diamond is time wasted and truly enjoys helping the kids in a sport that has helped him.
“Anytime you can give back to somebody else is more enjoyable,” remarked Barnick, who is a police officer back in Florida.
“Sure, I get satisfaction from fishing but that’s kind of selfish, and if I can come out here for three hours, then that’s more rewarding for me than regardless how well I do in the tournament,” he added.
That same sentiment is shared by Barton, whose son, Collin, plays on the all-stars’ team. Barton will be heading for Thunder Bay right after the final weigh-in on Saturday to coach the team.
“This is very important to me,” he stressed.
“I’ve told my fishing partner [Denis Barnard] how important this is to me and [he] realizes that because if you don’t spend time with them now, then before long they’re gone off to college and getting married.”
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
