Kamloops native Nolan Austin takes batting practice (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

NORTHPAWS BASEBALL

Kamloops NorthPaws finally ready to play ball

May 30, 2022 | 4:12 PM

KAMLOOPS — After the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the West Coast League (WCL) baseball season in 2021, the Kamloops NorthPaws are finally set to open their inaugural campaign Tuesday night (May 31) at Norbrock Stadium.

The WCL allows college-level athletes a chance to continue playing through the summer after their school programs conclude.

“It’s been a long road. It’s been a lot of work from the owners, from Jamie and Jen in the front office. These guys have been hustling here for over a year. Even the city guys out here working on the field. It’s been a real community effort; a lot of people have put a lot of time in. Hopefully we can come out here and not disappoint,” said Head Coach Cole Armstrong.

Success can be graded on a laundry list of criteria in baseball. You can look at batting average, slugging percentage, earned run average or even wins above replacement, but for Coach Armstrong the goal is development.

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“At the end of the day I want these guys to be able to come up here, get their work in throughout the summer and be able to make gains going back to their schools. Improving in anyway we can help them with. The city has amazing facilities to help these guys get better, that’s my main focus. That being said, at the end of the day if we win games it means we recruited a pretty good team,” said Armstrong.

That doesn’t mean the NorthPaws aren’t playing to win the championship, though. And to get to that goal, a trio of Kamloops natives will show the locker room, what it means to represent the city.

“I’m crazy excited to be back home and play in this stadium again. It’s been a while since I was able to play for (Kamloops), I moved away, being able to comeback and play for this team at a high level, it’s going to mean a lot to me,” said Nolan Austin.

“I think baseball is an underrated part of this town. I think it’s a big part of the town as a whole, that maybe doesn’t maybe get a light shined on it super often. I think it’s going to be a big day for the city as a whole tomorrow,” added Tyrelle Chadwick.

While working to assemble his squad, Armstrong noted he was looking to put players in positions to succeed across the diamond.

“If you are power guy then you have the most power. If you are a speed guy then you are the fastest guy. It’s really hard in this day and age to find five-tool players. But if we can put nine guys in the field every night and every one of them has a major league tool, I think at the very least we are going to be a really exciting team to watch,” said Armstrong.

As for fans heading down to take in the excitement over the summer season, expect to see NorthPaws swinging away, because bunting simply isn’t in playbook.

“They are free to bunt as much as they want if they feel the game calls for it, they can be a baseball player and bunt. But I’m not telling anybody to bunt,” chuckled Armstrong.