The catcher had never met any of his teammates before the event. All he knew is that the team consisted of mainly Canadians, with a few blokes from the United States and Australia thrown in.

He took a risk, but it paid dividends.

“It was a great bunch of guys,” he said.

“There was no ill-feeling at all and it turned out to be more than I would have expected.”

Beath said he adopted a similar strategy for the 2002 Masters Games in Melbourne, but while it was still enjoyable, he said 2009 was better for a number of reasons.

“We won a medal, the team was so harmonious and were such great sports,” he said.

“We first met on the Friday night in a hotel room where we got to know each other’s names and faces and picked up our uniforms.

“Then we played our first game on the Saturday morning.”

Beath’s team, the Edmonton Expos, were successful both on and off the field.

They won the bronze medal in the recreational baseball over-45s division.

Beath was picked to catch in the semi-final and bronze medal game, which he said was a great experience.

“The pitcher was an American who played minor ball in the States,” he said.

“I hadn’t caught to him before in the tournament which made it a bit harder.

“He had a lot of variety – four or five different deliveries – and it was my job to tell him which pitch to play.”

Beath, who was heavily involved in Highlands baseball before it folded, said he had intended to finish his baseball days with the Masters, but it had only reinvigorated his passion for the game.

“I’d like to see what sort of interest there is out there for baseball,” he said.

“I had such a great time.”

The divisional gold medal was won by a team from California and the silver was taken by the Silver Cosmos from Melbourne.