By Hayley McGoldrick
The Centennial Colts are pleased to welcome Patrick Orr to the varsity baseball coaching staff for the 2020 season. Orr will be serving as a pitching coach for the team.
Born in the GTA, Orr played youth baseball in Scarborough for the Stingers organization from 2003 all the way until the 21U level before playing NCAA DIII baseball.
Orr graduated from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania where he played as both a pitcher and a catcher before graduating in 2017, being named captain of the team as well as a four-year letter winner. Orr currently plays for the Thornhill Reds in the Greater Toronto Baseball League (GTBL).
Now president of the Scarborough Stingers, Orr also works with youth as a head coach of one of their rep teams as well as instructing in multiple clinics and camps in the area to help develop players’ catching and hitting.
“This is a really exciting opportunity. With this being the first Centennial baseball team, we get a chance to start from scratch and create a program that will lead us to on-field success,” said Orr.
“Coach Anderson wants to build a program that is attractive to recruits and sustainable, and I think my recent experience in the states will allow me to provide ideas and insight that will help achieve Coach Anderson's goals.”
In the three exhibition matches the Colts played in fall of 2019, the team had a 2-0-1 record, tying Trent 4-4 while only allowing two runs combined in their wins against Fleming and the Toronto Cardinals.
“Being a first-year team, my on-field goals are rather limited,” said Orr. “Focusing on the pitchers, I want them to control the run game, compete every pitch, and develop the mental toughness to stay level-headed and overcome whatever situation they find themselves in on the mound.”
With six NCCP coaching certifications on top of his experience, Orr hopes to bring a new perspective to coaching, blending new technologies with the reliable fundamentals that have been taught for decades.
“Teaching and learning has evolved over the years - coaching is no different. Kids are growing up with technologies that allow them to see and think about the game in a different way,” Orr said.
“As a coach, it’s important to embrace these tools and change the way I approach my players. At the same time, becoming too reliant on any one device, or way of thinking will make you miss other important things.”
The department is excited to see the hard work of the baseball team come to fruition in their upcoming inaugural season, and congratulations to Patrick on your position joining the Colts family!