Bulls’ Nick Gravel - Playing With Purpose
Nova Scotia native Nick Gravel wears the #34 for the Bulls this season and is playing as a Defensive specialist for the team in his first year with the club. Gravel attends Hill College, which is a 20 minute drive outside of Austin, TX, near Waco. He was just wrapping up his latest year in Business at Hill College when he got the call. “I was in Dallas, Texas for school.” He tells us. “I always wanted to play for the Bulls because I went to VBA (Vauxhall Baseball Academy). I had an opportunity from Coach Chance. He asked if I wanted to play. A bunch of my buddies were there (Lethbridge) and now I’m here and it’s awesome.”
Coming to Lethbridge, Gravel’s been living with one of the Bulls’ incredible billet families. “I’m currently living in Coaldale with Courtney and Andrew Hithcoks and they are awesome.” Gravel tells Lethbridge Sports. “In Vauxhall, we lived in dorms but had billet families to go over to for dinner if we needed to getaway. This is my second time having a billet family and they are awesome! We’ll go out for dinner, we’ll go on their boat, they have a golf cart so we’ll go golfing. I love it so much.”
Gravel’s role on the team gives him a lot of variety in the positions he plays, based on the needs of specific games and situations. “I’ve been moving around a bit.” He says of the season so far. “Some second base. Some left field. Last few games were center field. They’re moving me around a lot. My favourite position is shortstop. We have Mike Fitzsimmons as shortstop and he’s doing great there. As long as he’s doing well, I’ll do my part wherever I’m playing.”
This is also Gravel’s first year playing in the WCBL.“It’s definitely been different.” He reflects. “Because of COVID, I’ve never played in a league like this with so many fans. The Lethbridge Fans are the best in the league. The guys are awesome. It’s been a blast so far.” Gravel hopes that getting to play again he’ll manage to catch the eye of a scout in the stands as well. “For me, well, every boy dreams of getting drafting into the MLB. I go out and play my best with Lethbridge every day. My end goal is to play in the big leagues. I would love to play for the Toronto Blue Jays, I’m a huge Blue Jays fan. But just to get to play at that level would be amazing.”
Looking at the season so far, Gravel credits the Bulls’ commanding offensive presence for their successes to date. He recalls a particular case where he contributed to their offence. “One at-bat against Okotoks sticks out for me. It was a full count, bases loaded. I hit a ground ball up the middle. I think it might’ve hit the mound or a sprinkler, I’m not really sure, and I thought it was an easy ground out. It went straight up in the air, I beat the run to first and we got a point and won the game.” Gravel’s game-winning run in the ninth earned the Bulls a W earlier this season. We asked what the team does to celebrate a win like that.“We usually, after we win a game, all the guys will hang out in the clubhouse for a bit and celebrate. Everyone hangs out together. That’s what’s different about our team. We have a brotherly bond. Everyone seems to be really good friends.”
One thing that is unique about the structure of the WCBL this season is that with an all-Canadian roster and a reduced number of teams, players see the same opponents over and over again. We asked Nick if that’s been having any effect on his and the team’s success so far. “Most people would think it must be boring playing the same guys.” He admits. “I’ve got a lot of friends on the other teams. It’s kind of good for us as hitters because we see the same pitching and get used to it. It helps our team stats. We learn how they like to work counts. I’m enjoying it a lot.”
After his collegiate career wraps up, if being drafted into the MLB doesn’t pan out, Gravel aims to have completed his business degree. “My dad runs his own hockey training program,” Gravel explains, “and I’m hoping to take over his business if baseball doesn’t work out in the future.” Gravel’s had a close relationship with his parents and credits them for a lot of what got him to his current spot on the Bulls’ roster. “My parents have been the ones who’ve helped me through all this. They’ve paid for my school and supported me through it all. Definitely, I appreciate my family for sure.”
Family is also a big motivator for Nick. “I’m from Nova Scotia originally. Back home my uncle’s been living with us for a few years. He has Down’s Syndrome. I’ve been dedicating my career to him and want to do it for him. I want to show people they can do anything. I want to do it for my uncle. Back home they have a league for kids with disabilities and my Team Nova Scotia team, my provincial team, would help out a lot with that. That was a great experience.” Nick shares with us that in addition to being a big motivator for his athletic career, his experience working with his uncle and the disability leagues has given him a strong appreciation for community involvement. “I am looking for opportunities to get involved in that with Lethbridge and would love to hear about opportunities. Either individually or through the Bulls, I just want to find ways to give back and help out where I can.”
Nick and the Bulls are currently sitting tied for 1st place in the WCBL with the Edmonton Prospects. The Bulls have just completed a long homestand and are on the road for the next 2 weeks. Their next home game is scheduled for Wednesday, July 21st. For tickets, check out Bulls Baseball.
For more of our photos of Nick and the Bulls so far this season, check out Lethbridge Sports Photos.
We appreciate Nick taking the time to speak to us, and if anyone out there is interested in having Nick and his colleagues help out with a cause for mental disabilities during this season, feel free to message us at editor@lethbridgesports.ca or give the Bulls office a call at 403-320-2025 and we can put you in touch.