Spring is in the air, and so is baseball season.
The VIU Mariners baseball club opens its Canadian College Baseball Conference season this coming weekend, March 21-23, at Serauxmen Stadium. The M's will play the Prairie Baseball Academy Dawgs in a four-game series.
VIU brings back a core of returning players who will be looking to take the next step up the standings after hovering around the .500 mark last season.
Utility man Alex McLauchlan, a first-team all-conference player last year, will be one of the returnees asked to lead this year's group, along with pitchers Connor Dawson and Andrew Klassen, infielder Trevor Nicoll and first baseman Ryder Duncan.
Among newcomers, the M's are excited about right-handed pitcher Jordan Bauer, who brings an arsenal of pitches and competes hard, and pitcher/outfielder Zach Dobie, a hard-working physical player who brings power on both sides of the ball. Another key addition is pitcher Ethan Mark.
Manager Nathan Wedgewood said in a press release that the team will be looking to make good after feeling like it missed some opportunities last season.
“With quite a few returners from last year, a few guys are on the edge of a breakout season and our team is the most balanced it’s been in a while,” he said.
GAME ON … The Mariners and Dawgs play Friday, March 21, at 5 p.m. at Serauxmen Stadium. Saturday's game times are noon and 3:30 p.m. and Sunday's finale starts at 9 a.m.
