The city’s heavy hitters are now taking their turn at bat.
The Nanaimo Coal Miners senior men’s baseball team plays its home openers Saturday (June 2) and Sunday at Serauxmen Stadium against the Seattle Studs.
The Cross & Co. Coal Miners play in the Pacific International League. They’re no old-timers’ team, said Nolan Tabashniuk, Coal Miners player.
“This is the real deal. These guys can play…” he said. “The experience on the field and the knowledge of the game is unreal and the skill level of these guys is just fantastic.”
The team played last weekend on the road against the Burnaby Bulldogs and Burnaby Collegiate, splitting both doubleheaders.
The Miners led the Bulldogs most of the way in the first game, eventually losing 3-2 in extra innings on a walk-off hit-by-pitch, but made good in the rematch, pounding out four home runs in a mercy-rule win.
The Coal Miners are excited to take the field at their home park this weekend.
“We’re looking forward to getting our full range of players out,” Tabashniuk said. “We’ve been sort of piecing everybody together here while we get things organized.”
GAME ON … Game times Saturday are 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.; Sunday’s games go at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Admission is free.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com