FREEPORT - Tim March's mind might not have been completely focused on baseball last week, but it certainly didn't affect his performance.

A 17-year-old shortstop for the Scarborough (Canada) Cardinals, March attended a tryout for the All-Ontario baseball team last Friday in Vaughn, a city outside of Toronto.

Two days earlier, his mother, Sue, underwent heart surgery. By Friday, she was recovering in intensive care.

"I would've stayed with my mother," March said after his team's 5-4 loss to Worthington-Kittanning Palomino as part of the Freeport International Baseball Invitational Wednesday at Swartz Field. "But she didn't want that. She always wants what is best for me and felt I should take advantage of the opportunity."

"His mind was obviously on his mom," said Cardinals coach Neil Janssen. "But he was able to go out there and get the job done. That's the type of player he is."

Competing for one of 18 roster spots against 139 other players, March impressed the coaches enough to earn himself a place on the squad, which is the equivalent of a state all-star team in this country.

"In a way, knowing what my mother was going through motivated me," said March.

All players worked through several skill drills before being divided into teams and playing a series of games.

March learned he had made the cut Sunday afternoon.

"Going into the competition, I was just hoping to have some coaches take a look at me and gain some experience," he said. "But by Saturday, I had seen the competition and knew that I had a chance to make the team.

"Two things the coaches were looking for were hustle and intensity," he said. "They noticed both of those in me."

Later this summer, the All-Ontario team will compete in a national tournament against all-star teams from Canada's other provinces.

The top players from that tournament will travel to Taipei next spring to represent Canada in the World Youth Championships.

"I definitely think he has a shot to make it to that next level," said Janssen. "What I've learned in baseball is that dedication, determination and hard work are the best ingredients for any ball player. Tim combines all three."

March traveled with Janssen from Vaughn to the Freeport tournament, arriving on Monday.

He and his teammates are staying at the Quality Inn in West Kittanning.

"This is my first time here," March said. "But it's been a great time so far."

March hits leadoff for the Cardinals and has helped the team to a 12-1-1 record so far this season, good for first place in its league.

"Tim's always got his head in the game," said Janssen. "He's always talking, saying things to his teammates to pick them up. You never have to guess where he is; you'll hear him first."

March also runs cross country for his high school. But it's baseball that figures to be a part of his life for years to come.

"I've been playing baseball since I was 5 years old and I want to be involved with it down the road," he said. "I'd love to be playing in the minor leagues a few years from now, or at least playing for a university."

As for his mother, March said, "She's at home now. She's feeling better and moving around a bit more every day."