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Olivier Martels dream was launched at a young age.
He wanted to play in the NHL for his hometown Montreal Canadiens.
I played hockey until I was 16, Martel said.
I really liked playing it and I was pretty good.
If I was a better player, I would have chose hockey.
But I was a really good pitcher so I focused on baseball.
That decision has paid dividends for Martel, who has been virtually unhittable as the closer for the Eau Claire Express baseball team this season.
He is one of six players who will represent the Express at Wednesday nights Northwoods League All-Star Game at the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa.
Martel, who pitches collegiately for the University of Illinois, did not allow a run in his first 11 appearances for the Express this season.
He is 1-0 with six saves while compiling a 0.54 earned run average.
Martel has struck out 27 batters and walked just eight in 16 2/3 innings for Eau Claire.
The 5-foot-10 Martel is a hard-throwing right-hander who is effective at mixing his fastball with his breaking pitches.
He consistently hits 90 miles per hour with his fastball while possessing pinpoint control and an excellent command of the strike zone.
Its been really nice to get some good innings in here and build my confidence, Martel said.
Its been an awesome experience here in Eau Claire.
Hopefully, I can carry that success over to when I go back to Illinois in the fall.
Martel allowed his first run in a two-inning stint for the Express on Friday night against Duluth.
But he recovered to strike out the final batter and earn a save in his teams 8-6 victory.
Express manager Dale Varsho has been impressed with his closer.
Martel has been lights out for us, Varsho said.
Hes been really, really good.
He has great command.
He can put the ball where he wants to.
Spend a few minutes talking with Martel and you would never guess English is his second language.
I speak fluent French.
That is my first language, Martel said.
I learned how to speak English growing up as well.
We had English classes in school.
Growing up, I watched baseball and hockey games on TV that were broadcast in English.
And I have been in the U.S.
for three years now while playing in college, so that also helps.
Before landing at Illinois, Martel was an All-American closer for Mineral Area College in Missouri.
He struck out 52 batters in 24 1/3 innings as a sophomore in 2025.
He had an ERA of 1.11 and recorded seven saves that season at the junior college level.
I was at Mineral Area for two years and it was a great experience, he said.
We had an amazing team.
Martel was then recruited to the University of Illinois.
He pitched in 16 games for the Illini this past spring with an ERA of 7.11.
He had 21 strikeouts and 15 walks in 19 innings.
I had a lot of ups and downs for Illinois, Martel said.
I had too many walks.
That was the main thing I wanted to fix when I came to Eau Claire.
I need to bounce back next season at Illinois and be one of their top relievers.
Martel said his Express season will come to an end after Wednesdays all-star game.
Illinois wanted me to come here and pitch around 15 to 20 innings for Eau Claire, he said.
There is part of me that is tired after going through an entire college season at Illinois and then pitching here.
Martel is looking forward to representing the Express one final time this season.
My parents are coming down for the all-star game and it will be the first time I have seen them since Christmas, he said.
I have never been to the Field of Dreams, so I am excited to have a chance to play there.
It will be awesome.
Its definitely fun to have the opportunity to play in the all-star game and be recognized along with some of my teammates, This is the perfect end to what Ive done during my time with the Express.