Kamloops baseball journeyman Pearce named Finals MVP of Deutsche Baseball Liga championship series

The DBL is the top-tier professional baseball league in Germany.

“I hit two home runs, a double and a single,” said Pearce, a designated hitter for the Bonn Capitals. “I almost hit for the cycle. I felt all series like I was just missing balls. I was like, ‘Okay, let’s get this done finally.’”

Bonn vanquished the Guggenberger Legionäre 7-3 to secure a 3-1 series victory – and Pearce was named Finals MVP.

“It was a lot of beer in my face,” Pearce said of the post-game celebration. “I did not enjoy it, but it was fun while it lasted. Going out that night was a blast with the guys. It was nice to party with them one more time before I had to go home.”

Pearce has often been away from home since leaving the Kamloops Minor Baseball Association ranks in high school to play in Kelowna, where he has toiled for both the Okanagan Athletics of the B.C. Premier Baseball League and Okanagan College Coyotes of the Canadian College Baseball Conference.

He made several collegiate stops down south, including New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, New Mexico, Otero College in La Junta, Colorado, McPherson College in McPherson, Kansas and Southwest Baptist in Bolivar, Missouri.

Pearce has plied his craft in Japan – toiling for both the Oita B-Rings and Bibai Black Diamonds – and Australia, where he played for the Melbourne Rams.

“I just really like competing at the highest level I can,” said Pearce, who has a psychology degree. “I think it’s just a bonus I get to travel, see everything for free and get paid on the side. I’m just taking advantage of it while I can.”

Pearce has won championships with Bonn, Okanagan College, the Welland Jackfish of the Canadian Baseball League and Okotoks Dawgs of the Western Canadian Baseball League.

He was West Division all-star when the Dawgs won the WCBL title in 2022 and a first-team all-star when the Coyotes won the CCBC championship the same year.

“Probably a couple more years, I think,” McCoy said when asked how much longer he plans to play, noting Italy and Czechia are among preferred destinations. “I want to see a little more of Europe. After that, I’ll probably come home and figure something out.”

by Marty Hastings

Kamloops baseball journeyman Pearce named Finals MVP of Deutsche Baseball Liga championship series

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