Last weekend was a start, but this coming weekend is when the Nanaimo Pirates will really slide headfirst into baseball season.
The Hub City Paving Pirates host B.C. Premier Baseball League doubleheaders both Saturday and Sunday (April 14-15) at Serauxmen Stadium, facing the Victoria Eagles and the Whalley Chiefs, respectively.
“I prefer the four-game weekends,” said Doug Rogers, Pirates manager. “Overall you get everybody innings and pitchers need their innings.”
Nanaimo started the 2012 regular season by splitting a doubleheader last Saturday against the Victoria Mariners. The Pirates showed encouraging signs in all facets of the game.
“It’s definitely going to make us a lot more confident before going into the next games,” said Alex Rogers, Pirates pitcher.
The team knows it has plenty of room for improvement, as it had chances to win two games instead of one on opening day.
“We need to work on how we’re executing in certain spots and just sharpening up, doing the necessary things to win us ball games,” said Brendan McCarthy, Pirates outfielder.
The ball club knows that starting the season with six straight home games is a favourable schedule, so it wants to seize the opportunity.
“We have a lot of people in the stands here, more than any other field; the atmosphere is great, being a really a nice stadium,” said Doug Rogers. “We have to take advantage of that and have teams fear coming into this park.”
GAME ON … The Pirates and Eagles play Saturday at noon and 2:30 p.m. On Sunday the Pirates and the Chiefs play at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Admission at Serauxmen Stadium is $3 per game, or $5 for a doubleheader.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com