Baseball isn’t the first sport that comes to mind when you think of Denmark, but a dedicated group of players and volunteers is changing that.
Under the leadership of Jay Cannon, a former professional baseball player from the United States, the Danish national baseball team has recently taken home the Nordic Cup, marking a turning point in the development of the sport in this country.
Since Cannon took over as head coach, baseball in Denmark has been transformed.
“We wanted to create a national programme, give these kids an opportunity to represent their country in international tournaments,” he explained.
That dream became a reality when the team, composed of players from the Lyngby Jokers and Odense Wolves, went on to dominate the Nordic Cup.
Despite being seen as underdogs, the Danish team outperformed nations with longer baseball traditions.
Cannon emphasises that the team’s success is due to more than just what happens on the field.
“None of this would be possible without the parents,” he said, highlighting their volunteer work.
From driving the players to practices to securing indoor facilities and managing media outreach, the parents have been instrumental to the team’s achievements.
“Everyone has a job to do, and we’re only successful if everybody does their job,” Cannon said.
The national team consists of hand-picked players. There are five main baseball clubs across Denmark—Lyngby, Copenhagen, Aarhus, Herning, and Odense.
The most serious players, those who train multiple times a week and even travel outside Denmark to compete, come from Lyngby Jokers and Odense Wolves.
Cannon sees long-term potential in the younger generation, which is why even players under 15 were invited to travel with the team to the Nordic Cup.
“Our kids are incredibly talented, more disciplined, and focused,” Cannon said.
“I tell the parents all the time, I love these kids as if they were my own. I’m the luckiest guy in the world to be among them.”
As baseball in Denmark continues to grow, Cannon hopes more young players will join.
The Lyngby Jokers and Odense Wolves serve as the backbone of the national programme, but Cannon is quick to point out the importance of developing talent from the very beginning.
“If we don’t focus on club-level baseball and the development of kids under 12 and 15, this thing won’t sustain itself,” he said.
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