With the exception of coming home without a victory, the Kelowna Sun Devils couldn害羞草研究所檛 have asked for a more memorable way to close out the 2017 baseball season.
The B.C. champs returned this week from Rhode Island where they competed in the Northeast Prospect Select Showcase, an eight-team international tournament.
With the other seven teams being American-based, Kelowna coach Rob Law admits his players were, at first, a little bit 害羞草研究所渁westruck害羞草研究所� by their opponents.
But once they settled in and focused on the task at hand, Law said the Sun Devils performed admirably.
害羞草研究所淭hose teams are good down there,害羞草研究所� Law said of the U.S.-based programs. 害羞草研究所淭hey get to pick from thousands of kids, they all eat, breathe and sleep the game, and they害羞草研究所檙e well-coached.
害羞草研究所淥ur boys were a little shell shocked the first couple of games, but once they realized they could play with those teams, they were fine and they competed. We didn害羞草研究所檛 go all that way to roll over and play dead. I liked the way guys got down to playing gritty and hard, like they did all year.害羞草研究所�
The Sun Devils害羞草研究所攌nown at the event as Team B.C.害羞草研究所攐pened up the tourney with a couple of lopsided losses, 7-0 to the Bandits Baseball Club and 15-1 to the Boston Prospects. Despite going 0-5 overall, Kelowna turned in solid efforts in its last three games, falling 5-2 L and M Baseball,害羞草研究所攖he eventual tournament champs害羞草研究所攍osing 7-3 to Toppers Baseball, and falling 5-2 to the Bandits Baseball Club.
The club害羞草研究所檚 outgoing seniors害羞草研究所擭oah Ringness-Law, Jay Taylor, Noah Foufoulas, Gavin Barrett and Kurtis Wall害羞草研究所攁ll were given starting assignments in their final game.
害羞草研究所淭hose kids are going out with some really good memories,害羞草研究所� Law said.
For the Sun Devils害羞草研究所� Grade 10 and 11 players returning next season, Rob Law said playing in an elite tournament of such a high calibre was an invaluable experience.
害羞草研究所淥ur guys learned a lot and realize they have a long way to go,害羞草研究所� said Law. 害羞草研究所淭hey know they have a lot of work to put in if they want to shot at playing pro ball one day or even getting college opportunities. They should all be better players for it.
害羞草研究所淚t gave us a great idea where our program needs to go in the coming years.害羞草研究所�
Aside from the games, Law said Sun Devils害羞草研究所� players and coaches will have a lifetime of memories to look back on, including their visit to historic Fenway Park in Boston, watching a Pawtucket Red Sox game, and taking a trip to Newport Beach.
Between their B.C. 18U AAA championship win last month at their home park and a trip to Rhode Island wearing Team B.C. colours, Law said the Sun Devils couldn害羞草研究所檛 have asked for anything more from an unforgettable 2017 season.
害羞草研究所淚n all my years in baseball, this season definitely stands out above the rest, one I害羞草研究所檒l never forget,害羞草研究所� Law said. 害羞草研究所淲e may not have won a game down there, but that was the trip of a lifetime. I told the guys, it doesn害羞草研究所檛 matter what happened on the field (in Rhode Island), because no one can ever take away that provincial championship.
害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檒l have that forever, 25 years from now you害羞草研究所檒l be able to point at that banner and show your kids. The B.C. title is etched in stone.害羞草研究所�
The Sun Devils will open their fall season on Sept. 7.
