Comets reflect on decade of growth

RIVERS — Stepping onto the Rivers diamond in a Comets uniform takes Mike McFadden back 10 years.

His body may disagree, with an arm that “isn’t what it used to be” and a repaired left Achilles tendon. But mentally, the longest-tenured member of the senior AA baseball team can’t imagine not stretching his playing days out as long as possible.

McFadden played in the Comets’ first game back in Rivers in 2016, and took a moment to reflect on the 10th anniversary of the return last weekend.

“I was here when this diamond was being constructed, so showing up to this ballpark and getting to play, I’ve seen the grass roots of it and take so much pride in this diamond and this team,” McFadden said.

“Seeing the support from the community, the fundraising and all the volunteer effort that came in those early days to what we have now, the support … it’s community pride.

“We’re their team and they’re our fanbase, our family.”

PAYING HOMAGE

The Comets have a rich yet nearly forgotten history. They competed in the South Central Baseball League in the 1960s, winning five league titles in six years and earning a silver medal at the 1967 Western Canadian championship.

That team was inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012.

In the meantime, an assortment of Westman ball players formed the Rivers Diamond Dawgs, a Manitoba Junior Baseball League team. When the core aged out, they decided to bring back the Comets’ name and keep the team going at the senior AA level.

They competed in the Brandon league in 2015 and 2016, playing all of their games on the road until July 2016, when their home diamond opened for play.

McFadden was part of that group, and is now the only remaining player from it. He gets a kick out of seeing himself in his new teammates.

“At the start, I was the young guy bringing that energy, bringing the fire to get those old boys going. Now the tables have flipped, now I’m older, I’ve got two kids and got work to do,” McFadden said.

“Showing up to the diamond, (the young players) are the ones bringing the energy and they’re the ones that keep me coming back. You see how much fun they’re having and I remember that.”

LASTING IMPACT

If you build it, they will stay.

Scott Beever started playing minor ball in Rivers, but said he couldn’t stay as long as he would have liked.

When he hit the under-13 level and started pitching, he had to play out of Cardale-Oak River.

But with the resurgence of the sport in Rivers, along with remarkable fundraising efforts and volunteerism to improve their facilities, the minor ball system has thrived.

“The Cardale-Oak River kids come here now,” Beever said.

“We have a pretty good minor ball system now and a lot of that, honestly, is the guys who are here and brought this team back are now coaching their kids and still involved in the game, even though they’re not necessarily playing on this team anymore.”

Beever carved out an impressive career, taking his Team Manitoba experience to the University of Jamestown from 2011 to 2016, and then to the Weyburn Beavers of the Western Major Baseball League — now Western Canadian Baseball League.

He joined the Comets in 2017, and still competes 10 seasons later for two reasons.

“I’m in it, as much as anything, because I can still kind of compete and I’m a competitive guy,” Beever said, adding he wants to keep the baseball system strong for future players, which may include his 18-month-old son Raleigh.

Now, “Kind of compete” is a humble way of saying “dominate.” Beever was named South West Baseball League MVP each of the past two seasons. In 2024, he posted a 2.43 earned-run average with 82 strikeouts to go 7-0.

In 2025, he dropped his ERA to 1.32 while hitting .422 with 11 RBI.

The Comets went 10-5 this year, losing their last game of the regular season 11-4 to the Oak River Dodgers to settle for second in the North Division.

On Tuesday, they opened the playoffs with a 9-6 win over the visiting Reston Rockets. Game 2 of the series ended after deadline on Wednesday. If necessary, the deciding third game is in Rivers on Friday at 7 p.m.

NEW UPGRADES

Jocelyn Beever has been there since the return of the Comets, rain or shine, diligently keeping score as well as announcing at games.

At the 10th anniversary game, the Comets took time to thank sponsors, including the Rivers and Area Community Foundation for a grant that enabled the club to build a scorekeepers booth. The team is also working on a permanent sound system for the diamond.

“We’ve had a lot of support from the community, a lot of volunteers and we’re grateful for that,” Scott Beever said.

“It’s a lot of give and take and we’ve been really fortunate to have the support from everybody.”

» tfriesen@brandonsun.com