In our second edition of Tales From The North, we catch up with baseball player and North veteran Matt Obradovich, from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
Tell us a bit about yourself:
My name is Matt Obradovich, former captain and outfielder for the Laurentian Voyageurs (OUA). As a Sudbury native I was given the honour of representing my hometown both in provincial play as well as internationally with the North.
Where have you travelled with The North?
I’ve had the pleasure of taking part in three tours with The North — twice to Finkstonball and one unforgettable journey through the Adriatic. Some of the key cities we hit were Munich, Vienna, Salzburg, Bratislava, Budapest, Venice, Verona, Trieste, Bled, Ljubljana, and Zagreb.
If you could relive one day of your trip, which would it be and why?
Easily I would say the final day of any trip. Looking back at all the groups I’ve been a part of, all have been completely different, but we grew just as close. That final day, as you realize that all of these complete strangers have become great friends and brothers forever is a feeling that won’t leave me for years to come.
What did you learn about the European baseball community from your time with The North?
It is truly inspiring how completely devoted the European baseball communities are to their sport. While baseball isn’t as mainstream as other European sports, those that follow it see it as a way of life.
How has your North experience affected your relationship with baseball?
The North was the best reminder I ever had that we can’t forget, this is a child’s game. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you play, or what level you play at. At the end of the day you HAVE to have fun doing it.
If you could describe a North trip in three words, what would they be?
Memories for life (Or just: “Boys in Boats,” “Boys Boys Boys,” “Beer Beer Beer,” “Bath with Friends,” “Wet and Wild.” All very on-brand).
