The Junior Jays can't wait to get their season started.
The men's baseball team is gearing up for their second season in the Lower Mainland Baseball Association. Their home opener is tentatively slated for May 7.
The league will have 16 teams this season, up from 14 last year, and a few new rule changes should help to make the league even more competitive, according to Jays' manager Gary Pennington.
"We're off to a fantastic start. I'm really impressed with the attitude and the commitment shown by our players so far," Pennington said. "We're way ahead of our preparation from last year. I think the guys are getting excited, excited for the season."
The team has been working out for the past month doing fitness work in the gym with personal trainer Mokie Barabash, on-field workouts on Wednesdays, batting cage and some bullpen work on Saturdays and more on-field workouts on the weekends, weather permitting.
"We've had a great turnout, and once a few of the out-of-town guys who are away at school come back for the summer, it will make our team that much stronger," Pennington said. "Dave Moran and Brandon Elson have stepped up as captains, and that is working out great. They are both veteran guys and have a great respect from the players, so that will give us even a greater added edge."
Rounding out the coaching staff are Drew Murphy, Brian Scarr and hopefully Scott Thorsteinsson when he returns from Thompson Rivers University.
Besides training and preparing for the season, the Jays have also been doing some community service work. Taken from the model in the playbook of Lewis & Clarke College out of Boise, Idaho, the perennial NAIA baseball champs, the Jays are hoping to give back in a major way to their community.
"This has gained them the respect and support of the entire community. We need to do the same to give back for the support that we have received over the years from the Gibsons Minor Ball Association and our Sunshine Coast community," Pennington said. "We recognize the time constraints that our lads work under, but if we all give a little of our time, we will make a huge contribution in the final analysis."
As for the upcoming season itself, Pennington said he has high expectations.
"Pitching is certainly an area that we need to spend more time on, and we have been doing that and will continue to do that," he said. "I think we're working harder on our fitness, skills and fundamentals than the other team, and that will serve us well as the season unfolds."
