91大黄鸭 will field two teams in this season鈥攂oth under the banner of the Sun Devils.
The defending B.C. champion 91大黄鸭 Sun Devils are entering their fourth season on the provincial midget circuit, while the fledgling COMBA (Central Okanagan Minor Baseball Association) Sun Devils are making their debut.
With more players than ever coming out for fall and winter camps, the Sun Devils saw it as an opportunity to give more local talent the chance to play at the AAA level.
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited,鈥 Sun Devils鈥 head coach Rob Law said of the COMBA program. 鈥淭he second team isn鈥檛 going to be without its growing pains, we鈥檝e got some new guys playing at the 18U triple-A level. 鈥淏ut we鈥檙e all looking forward to seeing those players progress.鈥
As for the 91大黄鸭 team, Law said back-to-back provincial crowns is definitely on the Sun Devils鈥 radar in the summer of 2018.
鈥淭he coaching staff鈥檚 expectation, without a doubt, is to get back to the provincials and take another run at it, as we did here on the field (Edith Gay Park) here at home,鈥 said Law.
The 91大黄鸭 club brings balance into the new season, with six seniors, six Grade 11s and six rookies on the roster.
Law said the experienced gained last season by the club鈥檚 returning players will be a key to the Sun Devils鈥 success in 2018.
鈥淭hey鈥檒l be huge, they鈥檒l be big leaders,鈥 Law said. 鈥淛ordan Laidlaw, Tyson Lamb, our two captains that were on the provincial championship team, they鈥檙e going to lead by example.鈥
Related: Sun Devils claim B.C. title
Both Sun Devils clubs kick off the new season this weekend in Vernon. 91大黄鸭 will take on the host Canadians for one game on Saturday, while COMBA meets Vernon for a doubleheader the following day.
The 91大黄鸭 and COMBA team will meet head on for the first time Wednesday night at Edith Gay Park in a 6 p.m. start.
The 91大黄鸭 Sun Devils will host their home opener on Saturday, April 21 against North Island.
Prior to the first game, at around 11: 30 a.m, the Sun Devils will hold a ceremony to unveil a championship board, featuring the names of the players and coaches who were on the 2017 club.
The board will be installed on the clubhouse at Edith Gay Park.
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