Baseball season is just around the corner, and one of Lethbridge’s most prominent teams has their preseason in full swing.
Preseason training has begun, and the team is already feeling just as strong as the six championship teams of the past six seasons.
While there’s still lots of snow on the ground, the Prairie Dawgs have been hard at work so far this year, playing 12 games down in the States, as well as a tournament in Las Vegas over reading week.
In those 12 games, they’ve won seven, lost four, and tied in a game that was cut short due to rain.
As for their trip to Las Vegas over the reading break, the team went five-and-three against some tough competition.
Second year left handed pitcher Rhett Feser is in his last year with the team, and after last year’s Canadian College Baseball Conference championship, he says they’re hoping to do more of the same.
“All the way through the lineup we’re strong, all the way through the bats we’re good, our pitching’s good, everybody has their own role and that’s what makes this team great.”
Obviously the weather isn’t exactly ideal with Canola Harvest Field being completely covered in snow, so the team is practicing in their clubhouse.
With the limited space, the team splits up the pitching and hitting staff, and they take turns upstairs.
While upstairs, the teams practice throwing and hitting, while the team downstairs hit the weights.
Assistant Coach Ryan MacDonald says that after being the CCBC champions for the last six straight years, the expectations for his team are high.
“Our main objective is to win that seventh in a row, and that’s not our coaching staff it’s our player’s goal, and if we don’t capture that then it’s not a successful season.”
The Prairie Dogs have this whole week off to get to the top of their form before the season starts.
They’ll have four games left, two against Blue Mountain Community College, and another two against Walla Walla Community College.