The season may be quickly winding down in the Canadian College Baseball Conference, but there’s plenty of action left for a host of Vancouver Island Baseball Institute Mariners.
Pitchers Adam Paulencu, Taylor MacDonell, Riley Grose, Connor Russell, Matt Thornton and Matt Davis have been selected to play for teams in the Western Major Baseball League out of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
“It’s a known league to all baseball people on Canada,” said Jordan Blundell, VIBI manager. “It’s one of the five best summer baseball leagues in North America.”
Paulencu, MacDonell and Grose suit up for the Swift Current Indians, the defending league champions, while Mariner freshmen Russell and Thornton join the Okatoks Dawgs out of Calgary, and Davis was selected by the Medicine Hat Mavericks.
Blundell said the league is similar to the Canadian College Baseball Conference with wood bats and nine-inning games and will be a good stepping stone for the players’ careers.
“It’s a 42-game schedule and serious, competitive ball,” he said. “They get after it all summer.”
While all the players benefit from the experience of summer ball, Paulencu and MacDonell have made commitments to U.S. universities (Division 1 Nebraska Omaha and Division 2 Wayne State in Nebraska respectively) for next year and won’t be returning to the Mariners.
But for the others, Blundell sees only positives for them and the VIBI program.
“Blake Robson played last year in the WMBL as an 18-year-old for Swift Current and that’s almost unheard of. Not many players that age make the league, let alone get playing time,” he said. “We’ve seen the maturity in his game and the confidence that comes from being part of a championship team. He’s a better player and a leader on this team now, and all that comes from that summer experience. We hope for the same from the players taking part this summer.”
Blundell said the benefits of a stint in summer ball are more than simply increasing playing skills.
“They not only develop as good players, but good citizens as well,” he said. “The league is professional and the players get a taste of that. They often have to pay their dues which is a good learning experience.
“There’s only benefits for playing on these teams.”
Sending players to the WMBL has benefits for the Mariners program as well.
“I think the recruitment of players has a lot to do with the VIBI program. The league has knowledge of what we’re trying to accomplish here,” said Blundell. “We’re trying to get these kids an education, let them play some high-calibre ball and become better people.
“Some of our former players have played in the league with good results and are good citizens. That the league calls looking for players breeds new recruiting for us.”
While past and present Mariners are moving on and making a name for themselves in baseball, VIBI continues to think about the future.
Blundell has signed Liam Goodall and Cody Andreychuk from the Hub City Paving Pirates, and Luke Hawkins of the Victoria Eagles of the B.C. Premier Baseball League.
“Liam and Cody and pitcher/outfielders and Luke is a pitcher,” he said. “We have identified a few more players but having signed them yet.”
Blundell said recruitment of local players is vital to the success of the VIBI program and good for the players as well.
“The fact that we can get these players a quality education and let them continue to play ball close to home is important to them,” he said.