This story appeared in the Leader-Post during the summer, but we didn’t see it until now. Thought you still might enjoy it.
A man for all seasons
Julie Folk
Leader-Post[ Regina,Saskatchewan,Canada] – Jeannot has been playing fastball for 14 years; now it’s time to set down the bat and pick up a clipboard, spending more time coaching, staying home with his family, and resting his shoulders, which have already been through three surgeries. For the past six years, Jeannot has been playing with the Saskatoon Poly Plus Senior Diamondbacks fastpitch club. While his Supreme Auto Body team in the Rambler Park men’s fastball league plays a lighter schedule, a couple of times a week, the Diamondbacks regularly travel across Canada for competition.
“The last few years have been intense,” said Jeannot. “But it’s the closest I’ll ever be to a professional ballplayer. Maybe if I was still in my 20s, I might have a shot at going somewhere, but I didn’t start playing ball in Regina until I was 25, 26. I was kind of a late bloomer on the scene.”
Jeannot, 37, began playing baseball in his hometown of Whitewood. His earliest memory is of watching his dad, Ed Jeannot, play ball.
“Our summer holidays were going with the family to ball tournaments,” he said. “I can still remember getting into trouble so many times because when the dads were batting (we) the kids would steal their gloves off the bench and go into a field and throw the ball around. They’d finish batting and then come to the bench looking for their gloves and the kids would have them in the fields!”
When Jeannot turned 16, he began playing with a midget softball team in Broadview. But once he began university studies he quit playing ball because he worked in Alberta or B.C. during the summers.
Once he got his first position with the Regina Public School Board, Jeannot, a physical education teacher, was asked to play with his cousin’s fastball team, Amtrak Communications, which has since become Supreme Auto Body.
“I’m currently the longest-serving player on the team,” said Jeannot.
Even though he won’t be travelling next year, he said chances are he’ll stay with his Regina team, as it’d be hard to give up playing altogether.
Joining the Diamondbacks actually came about because of a loss with another team. In 2002, Jeannot joined a Regina A team, which was formed to try to win provincials to go to nationals, which were to be held in Winnipeg of that year. The team lost at provincials, but the Saskatoon Merchants, who won that year, asked Jeannot to join their team for nationals.
“When I went, I had one of those unbelievable weeks,” said Jeannot. “I won the batting title — I batted .643 for the tournament. So they invited me back the year after that and I’ve been playing ever since.”
Jeannot opened the first three games of the tournament batting 14-for-14 with three walks. But then his parents came to watch a game and he went 0-for-3. The next game, however, he redeemed himself, going 2-for-3 against Victoria’s Darren Zach.
While he plays first or third base — and sometimes catcher or pitcher with Supreme Auto Body — Jeannot is known for his big hits.
“He has lots of power and gets the ball out there,” said Saskatoon Diamondbacks coach Bryan Kosteroski. “Armand has a lot of leadership skills … He’s a clutch player and a total gentleman. He thrives on sportsmanship.”
Jeannot’s daughters — Morgan (10) and Alexandra (eight) — have played softball for a couple of years now. Jeannot is hoping to start coaching his own kids once he has more time. He also has a 2 1/2-year-old son (Keon) and said all three kids have grown up in the gym or on the ball diamond. Jeannot and said he also owes a lot to his wife, Denise, who sacrificed her own ball so that he could play.
“We kind of give and take,” said Jeannot. “She gets to play volleyball in the fall. But I also coach a high school volleyball team (with F.W. Johnson Collegiate, where Jeannot teaches), and with assistant coach with the (University of Regina) Cougar men’s team. So it’s not like I’m home a lot of the time. She’s very supportive and understanding.”
In addition to coaching volleyball, Jeannot also coaches track and field with Johnson. With sports, Jeannot has had the opportunity to see a lot of North America. He’s taken his high school volleyball teams to tournaments in Hawaii and Cuba. With softball, he’s played from coast to coast, and plays with the Diamondbacks in the ISC World Tournament, the North American club team championship. The Diamondbacks are ranked 23rd out of the 40 teams attending, but a couple of weeks ago beat Horse Lake, Alta, who is now ranked ninth.
After that it’s the Senior Men’s Canadian Fastpitch Championships in Saskatoon, Aug. 24-31.
While softball is Jeannot’s passion, he has also played hockey for years, and still plays in a recreation league. At one point, in university, Jeannot officiated in the WHL.
“I’ve done some neat things in sports,” said Jeannot. “I have a few interesting stories to tell. I’ve travelled so many places and done so many things because of being involved in sports.”
© Leader-Post 2008