Players to Watch
EThe Okanagan Weekend
verything is falling into place for the Kelowna Falcons and Mark Nonis. That’s what has him worried.
Even though it was all good news, the team’s general manager hesitated when talking about the squad that will play this summer at Elks Stadium.
“On paper, this is one of the most talented teams I’ve ever had,” he said.
Nine players are expected back from the 2018 squad that reached the West Coast League championship last August.
Several of those players could hear their names called during this June’s Major League Baseball draft.
The Falcons have reached the WCL final two of the past three seasons and made the playoffs three of four.
When only four of 12 teams qualify for the post-season, that’s enviable territory to occupy.
What has Nonis hesitating? Well, he’s seen talented players come through Kelowna before.
He remembers the Falcons amassing the top hitters from Texas Tech and Auburn— powerhouse South East Conference schools—only to watch the team crumble under the weight of two big egos in Kelowna.
Great talent has to be blended or average talent has to be maximized all in a short timeframe of summer baseball.
“It’s in the hands of the coach to do that,” Here’s a closer look at some notable Falcons and new recruits expected for the 2019 season:
TRENT TINGELSTAD, OF
The reigning WCL’s MVP was top three in the league for batting average (.350), home runs (nine), RBI (40) and doubles (13) last season.
NIALL WINDELER, SP
The six-foot-four, 205-pound left-hander was 4-1 with a 2.74 ERA through six games in 2017 for the Falcons. TUCKER GROTE, RP
When he signed in Kelowna, Grote had pitched in 16.2 innings out of the bullpen in relief. The six-foot-four, 175-pound hurler led his squad in saves with five, and sat tied for second in the Northwest Athletic Conference in that department while holding a 1.62 ERA.
AUSTEN BUTLER, OF The five-foot-11, 185-pound outfielder hit .250
Nonis said, adding he has a coach who can do just that.
Ryan Wright, an assistant at Montana State University Billings, will take over
JAYDEN KNIGHT, OF
Played for Baseball Canada’s junior team in the Dominican Summer League in Punta Cana. The six-foot-one, 200-pound righthanded batter just finished up his freshman year.
DAN PRUITT, IF/P
Led the National Junior College Athletic Association with a .481 batting average and ranked second in RBI (83) and home runs (22). His slugging percentage (1.016) and onbase percentage (.573) were also among the top two along with a slew of other offensive categories.
MATT VOELZKE, IF/RP
Voelzke finished the season with 10 doubles, two triples, five homeruns and 26 runs batted in in 160 at-bats, possessing a .313 batting average. Voelzke also made 17 appearances on the mound, hurling 29.1 innings and finished third on the team with 40 strikeouts with a 3.07 ERA, a 2-2 record and seven saves.
the club.
With Wright on the bench, the first-place Yellowjackets are 30-10 in conference play and 12-4 at home.
He’s a “very, very well-respected up-andcoming coach,” Nonis said.
“He’s going to be a guy who’s going to do a lot of good things in baseball.”
Wright was an academic All-American during his playing days and is now completing a master’s degree in sports management.
Management is the key word here. It’s important to have a baseball-first coach who loves strategy and tactics, but also a guy who understands “new-age” athletes.
“I love this guy,” Nonis said. “I’m excited to see what he can do for this team.” Again, this all seems like good news. But no matter how many pieces come to play, Kelowna just can’t escape geography or circumstance.
Many of the players the Falcons recruit come from far afield with kids from Washington State, Oregon and California choosing to play closer to home for Kelowna’s West Coast League opponents, Nonis said.
However, the kids from further away have longer travel commitments and shorter windows because of staggered starts among colleges across the United States.
Simply, players from the central and eastern parts of the U.S. leave Kelowna.
When the playoffs finally arrive in early August, many of the Falcons must return for the start of the school year.
“Talent wise, we’re going to contend with any team in the league,” Nonis said.
The Falcons are to open the 2019 season on the road against the Bellingham Bells on June 4 before the home-opener against the expansion Ridgefield Raptors on June 7.