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Despite overcast skies and snow flurries in the forecast, the Okanagan College Coyotes will open the 2017 Canadian College Baseball Conference season with a sunny disposition this weekend at Elks Stadium.
The Coyotes will play host to the University of Calgary Dinos for four games, beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, with senior righthander Cole Parusinni — in his fourth season with the team— taking to the mound for OC.
A double-header is set for Saturday, with the first pitches slated for 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Elks. The season-opening series closes out on Sunday with a game starting at noon.
The Coyotes have been hampered by poor weather already this season. They began their annual spring trip to the United States with big wins against Chandler-Gilbert Community College of Chandler, Ariz. and a thrilling come-from-behind victory against Salt Lake Community College. But the ’Yotes hit some winter weather which led to the cancellation of the rest of their preseason schedule.
Usually, the Coyotes would be able to play a full pre-season schedule and work out in normally warmer weather in Kelowna, but with later-than-usual snow and some untimely rain, the Yotes were forced to stay inside to continue their training before the regular CCBC season.
Meanwhile, the Coyotes’ pitching staff looks to be one of the deepest the team has had, according to head coach, Geoff White. Following Parusinni’s start on Friday, Zac Yandeau is slated as the starter in Saturday’s first game while freshman Aiden Mordecai will be handed the ball for the second game. Sunday’s finale will feature another rookie pitcher in Noah Wood.
White also believes the Coyotes’ offence is poised to put up even better numbers than last year when OC finished second with a batting average of .283.
“With a very deep lineup, the expectation is to put fear into the other team’s pitchers and defence . . . using both their bats and their legs,” said White.
Seniors Jared Frew, Jared Dulaba and Brandon Graham will be looked upon to lead their team at the plate as all three hold extra-base power.
"We have high expectations for this team,” noted White. “If we perform day in and day out the way we know we can, we should be in good shape.”
The Coyotes are looking to take one more step forward than they did during a successful 2016 season in which they were one out away from winning the Canadian College Baseball Conference championship.
The CCBC championship tournament will again be played in Kelowna (May 9-12) at Elks Stadium.
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