Tyrelle Chadwick will start on the mound and bat fourth tonight (Image Credit CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

NORTHPAWS BASEBALL

Kamloops’ Tyrelle Chadwick gets opening day nod for NorthPaws

May 31, 2022 | 3:11 PM

KAMLOOPS — In recent years, baseball fans have been witness to the best two-way superstar since the great Babe Ruth, in dual threat Shohei Ohtani. Tuesday night (May 31), baseball fans in this city will get a chance to see Tyrelle Chadwick start on the mound and bat clean-up in the first ever NorthPaws game.

Chadwick grew up on the fields around Norbrock Stadium, whether it was playing his own little league games or watching his dad coach the TRU Wolfpack, the park became a second home.

The Illinois State commit played this year for Okotoks Dawgs Academy in Alberta, before returning home to front the NorthPaws rotation — and hopefully do a little damage at the plate as well.

“Obviously it’s a huge honour, super exciting to be back in my home town, I grew up here. I got the call from Cole (Armstrong) and he let me know that I was going to get the ball and that was definitely really exciting to hear,” said Chadwick.

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“He has a tremendous amount of upside. There are going to be scouts in the stands here who have already reached out that are going to be here to watch him pitch. And he’s going to be in there, he’s going to be hitting as well. He has a chance to do something pretty cool and we will give him that opportunity. I’m really excited to see what he comes out here and does,” said Head Coach Cole Armstrong.

The big right-hander calls himself a power arm, featuring a mid-90s fastball, slider, curve and a splitter, but agreed the most important pitch for him is going to be strike one, with the heater.

“Yesterday, I see him throwing and he was throwing really well. He has some good fastballs and yesterday he threw some really good sliders as well,” said Pitching Coach Jose Bautista.

At the dish, the local kid looks to keep the ball up the middle of the diamond, acknowledging what opposing pitchers are looking to do against him.

“Especially as a bigger body, pitchers tend to try and stay away from me, so it’s something I’m comfortable doing, something I’ve had to do for a long time. Staying the other way is definitely a big part of my game,” said Chadwick.

When he takes to the field this evening, he won’t be the only Kamloops native donning a NorthPaws cap — he’ll be flanked by Nolan Austin and Jared Sucro, old teammates and lifelong friends.

“It’s crazy, I haven’t played with these guys in I don’t know how many years. It’s going to be a lot of fun to be playing alongside them again,” said Austin.

“Those are my guys, those are my guys for sure. I played with Nolan Austin and Jared Sucro both a bunch growing up. Sucro was my designated catcher growing up, so I got a good connection with that guy. And then Nolan has been one of my best friends for a long time. Having those guys here especially, is really cool,” said Chadwick.

First pitch flies Tuesday night (May 31) at 6:35 pm as the NorthPaws welcome the Edmonton Riverhawks to Norbrock Stadium for the first of three.