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Miller Express coach Marriott signs with Welland Jackfish

Return to field in venerable Intercounty Baseball League to be a one-off for 2021, plans to return to Moose Jaw for 2022 Western Canadian Baseball League campaign
Marriott signs Jackfish
Moose Jaw Miller Express head coach Eric Marriott will be back on the field this summer.
It turns out that Moose Jaw Miller Express head coach Eric Marriott isn’t finished with his playing days just yet.

The Welland Jackfish of the Intercounty Baseball League announced Wednesday that Marriott would be joining the team for the upcoming season, bringing his impressive skill in the outfield and ability at the plate to the high-profile eight-team league based out of southern Ontario.

“They offered me a spot on what they’re building, when someone gives you a chance to put a jersey on your back, it’s tough to say no,” Marriott told Bernd Franke from the Welland Tribune. “I loved everything that they were preaching. I talked to coach (Brian) Essery and he was phenomenal.”

Of course, the elephant in the room has to be dealt with first -- this is a one-off for Marriott and the Jackfish, as he plans to return to Moose Jaw as head coach for the 2022 Western Canadian Baseball League season.

“They’re a great organization, they helped me become the man I am today,” Marriott said, adding that he was looking forward to returning to Ross Wells Park this summer before COVID shut things down. “It sucks but everything happens for a reason. For whatever reason, I ended up with the Jackfish and I think it’s going to help my baseball career moving forward.”

Welland will be landing a player with a ton of speed and stellar hands in the outfield. A fan favourite in his time on the field with the Express, Marriott won the team Gold Glove in 2018 and 2019. 

Marriott had the third-best batting average on the team in 2018 at .288 to go along with two home runs and 12 runs batted in along with a team-high 18 stolen bases in 42 games.

In 2019, Marriott hit .217 in 47 games, knocking in 17 runs and stealing another 21 bases.

Marriott was to take over as head coach of the Express in 2020, but the pandemic cancelled that season outright. 

The team officially announced the Niagara Falls native as their new coach last fall, and Marriott had put together a solid recruiting class before the upcoming campaign was also cancelled.

Having not played a meaningful game in the last two seasons isn’t something Marriott is concerned about.

“I’m in good shape and I stay in shape. I work out every day, I lift every day,” he said. “I believe that I can still play, just like I did a couple of years back, and I think I can bring a lot to the Jackfish.”

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