Excited to get going
Four all-stars return, new players added as Kentville Wildcats prepare for NSSBL season
jason.malloy @saltwire.com
@JasonMa47772994
The Kentville Wildcats will have more options this season when filling out their lineup card.
The squad ran into some key injuries in 2021, but those players are healthy and the club has added some extra guys as it prepares for the 2022 Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League (NSSBL) season.
“I think we have a lot of depth this year,” said Dryden Schofield, a 27-year-old first baseman. “And I think the boys are really excited to start a new season with the warm weather showing up. I think there’s a lot of excitement.”
The Wildcats open the 30game season May 24 in Halifax against the Pelham Canadians.
Kentville (10-13) finished third in the four-team league in 2021 and was swept by Sydney in the best-of-three semifinal. First-place Dartmouth swept Sydney in the best-of-three championship series.
“Last year, we were decimated with injuries, but we still had some of those moral victories,” said John Ansara, who returns as a player/coach after earning the coach-of-the-year honours in 2021. “This year, we’re not going to be satisfied with just moral victories.”
The league will play seveninning games again this season, which leads Schofield to point to the mound as one of the team’s keys to success this season.
“You’re going to see everybody’s best every night,” he said. “I think pitching and good defence for us will be a huge factor this year.”
While league rosters aren’t due until July 1, team officials said there are lots of arms to choose from and a deep contingent of fielders.
“A couple of our key pitchers are going to be back healthy, and we have a couple of new guys that can really throw the ball,” Ansara said. “We have four all-stars returning this year, and we have a couple of young kids coming up who will make immediate impacts.”
All-stars were Schofield, second baseman Matt Johnson, outfielder Colby Turple and designated hitter Brandon MacKay.
Kentville will host the Nova Scotia Under-17 Selects in their home opener on Sunday, May 29. The Selects are playing a modified 10-game schedule where they will play each team twice, with both games being on the road as they prepare to represent the province at the Canada Games in Niagara Region of Ontario in August.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The Wildcats have been training indoors for the past few months but were able to get onto the Kentville Memorial Park recently for some practices.
“It’s a lot more enjoyable,” Dryden said. “You can only do so much in a gym. When you get back on the field, you can really start to stretch things out.”
The senior team also recently had an exhibition game against the Kentville junior squad.
“I like what I saw,” Ansara said. “The guys were very competitive and focused for an exhibition game. I think we’re in a good place heading into the season.”
Ansara said fans can expect to see some competitive baseball when they come out to support the squad this season.
“They will see a team with good chemistry,” he said. “I was really impressed, with a big team that we have, how well the guys
get along with one another. I think that goes a long way to the performance on the field.”
EXPANSION
This season, the league has expanded to five teams, with the new Metro Senior Baseball Club joining the circuit.
They will play their home games at Mainland Commons, the same field the Canadians play out of.
“I think it’s just great for baseball
in general in Nova Scotia,” Ansara said. “It gives younger players more opportunity to play in the senior league. It’s really good baseball and I’d like to see the league grow.”
The Selects aren’t eligible for the post-season, but their 10 games will count in the standings. The top four teams qualify for the semifinals.
NATIONALS
There will be two entries at the Canadian senior baseball nationals this year as league champion Dartmouth Moosehead Dry will join the host Sydney Sooners for the Aug. 25 to 28 competition.
Codey Shrider, a pitcher/ infielder, and outfielder Colby Turple both played key roles for Dartmouth when they finished second to the host Chatham Ironmen at the 2019 championship. The 2020 and 2021 events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.