With the exception of coming home without a victory, the Kelowna Sun Devils couldn乌鸦传媒檛 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 乌鸦传媒渁westruck乌鸦传媒� by their opponents.
But once they settled in and focused on the task at hand, Law said the Sun Devils performed admirably.
乌鸦传媒淭hose teams are good down there,乌鸦传媒� Law said of the U.S.-based programs. 乌鸦传媒淭hey get to pick from thousands of kids, they all eat, breathe and sleep the game, and they乌鸦传媒檙e well-coached.
乌鸦传媒淥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乌鸦传媒檛 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.乌鸦传媒�
The Sun Devils乌鸦传媒攌nown at the event as Team B.C.乌鸦传媒攐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,乌鸦传媒攖he eventual tournament champs乌鸦传媒攍osing 7-3 to Toppers Baseball, and falling 5-2 to the Bandits Baseball Club.
The club乌鸦传媒檚 outgoing seniors乌鸦传媒擭oah Ringness-Law, Jay Taylor, Noah Foufoulas, Gavin Barrett and Kurtis Wall乌鸦传媒攁ll were given starting assignments in their final game.
乌鸦传媒淭hose kids are going out with some really good memories,乌鸦传媒� Law said.
For the Sun Devils乌鸦传媒� 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.
乌鸦传媒淥ur guys learned a lot and realize they have a long way to go,乌鸦传媒� said Law. 乌鸦传媒淭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.
乌鸦传媒淚t gave us a great idea where our program needs to go in the coming years.乌鸦传媒�
Aside from the games, Law said Sun Devils乌鸦传媒� 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乌鸦传媒檛 have asked for anything more from an unforgettable 2017 season.
乌鸦传媒淚n all my years in baseball, this season definitely stands out above the rest, one I乌鸦传媒檒l never forget,乌鸦传媒� Law said. 乌鸦传媒淲e may not have won a game down there, but that was the trip of a lifetime. I told the guys, it doesn乌鸦传媒檛 matter what happened on the field (in Rhode Island), because no one can ever take away that provincial championship.
乌鸦传媒淵ou乌鸦传媒檒l have that forever, 25 years from now you乌鸦传媒檒l be able to point at that banner and show your kids. The B.C. title is etched in stone.乌鸦传媒�
The Sun Devils will open their fall season on Sept. 7.
