CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - The boys of summer are back!
Yeah, yeah, sorry for the cliche, but it’s true… they are back. They being the P.E.I. Junior Islanders, which kick off the 2018 New Brunswick Junior Baseball League season Saturday with a doubleheader against the Chatham Junior Ironmen in Charlottetown.
Game 1 start time is noon at Memorial Field. Head coach Dave MacIssac hasn’t had a restful winter, however, after mulling over last season’s playoff loss to the 10-14 Fredericton Royals.
P.E.I. (16-8 last season) won the first game of the best-of-three semifinal then lost three straight games to drop the matchup 3-1.
“We were second in the league last year, won the first game of playoffs 10-0. It still sticks in my craw,” MacIsaac said at a recent Islanders practice.
But it’s a new year, ripe with new potential. The Isles graduated six players such as stalwarts Dominique Ryan, Spencer Horne and JJ Oram, but many on that team have returned.
Those include Brett Hicken and Porter Smith, who get the starting pitcher duties in Game 1 and 2, respectively, and head what MacIsaac sees as a good stable of hurlers most of which will see action Saturday.
“We’re going to have a really, really deep starting nine. We may not have that true number one, but we have the two to five-type of starter,” said MacIsaac, adding he’s fond on the lineup’s power, too. “We should be solid all the way through.”
MacIsaac said Logan MacDougall, Ryne MacIsaac and Matt Barlow should man the infield with Josh Myers in the mix. MacIsaac also likes that he’s corralled a stable of several midget affiliated players to call up when needed.
MacDougall played that AP role last year getting into four games, but moves into a full-time position as shortstop and third base this year, and said he likes what he sees this early season.
“It think we’ve got a pretty good team, lots of returning players. I think a strength will be hitting. We’ve got a pretty good defence, too, so that’s another strength. All those returning players will be a help for us,” said MacDougall.
The Summerside native played last fall with the University Calgary Dinos soaking up that experience which should come in handy this summer at the plate and on the left side of the infield.
“Just playing more baseball (makes a difference). In Calgary you’re not playing against 18-year-olds anymore, you’re facing 21 to 22-year-olds,” said MacDougall, who played baseball and indoor volleyball for P.E.I. at last year’s Canada Summer Games and carried the Island’s flag into the opening ceremonies.
As for MacIsaac, well, winning in this league is simple.
“It all comes down to pitching,” he said.
MacIsaac’s staff includes Chris McGregor and Scott MacDonald. Vern Doyle is the team manager.
On the web at www.nbjuniorbaseball.ca.
