The Nanaimo Pirates will test the depth of their team with a four-game series this weekend.
The Hub City Paving Pirates host the Okanagan Athletics in a four-game set Saturday and Sunday (April 25-26) at Serauxmen Stadium.
It will be a stiff test for Nanaimo (3-3), as Kelowna (6-2) has gotten off to a strong start and has scored 10 or more runs three times already this season.
Doug Rogers, Pirates manager, said earlier this week he wanted his team to show attention to detail at practice and try to become sharper and focused on the little things.
“As kids, they just want to come out and play,” he said. “Now we want them to think a little more.”
Nanaimo earned a split in its home openers last weekend, but that was partly thanks to a late-inning comeback and the Pirates would prefer to avoid that kind of drama this week.
“We’ve got to come out stronger and win that first game, I think that’s big for us,” said Cole Warken, Pirates catcher.
To have winning results, all facets of the game will need to be going, he said.
“Just make sure we’re on top of our defence and pitching and stuff like that,” said Warken. “Our team obviously can swing it pretty well.”
GAME ON … The Pirates and Athletics play Saturday at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com