The Chemainus & District Baseball Association is getting into full swing again after a slow start due to less than desirable weather.
The Chemainus Brewers junior men’s team, sponsored by the Brass Bell Pub, started exhibition play in the South Island Baseball League Saturday at the Chemainus Ball Park with a pair of losses in a doubleheader against the Victoria Pirates.
“They were tight games till about the fourth inning, both of them,” noted Chemainus player-coach Bryan Wheeler.
The Brewers have 17 players on the roster this year, including newcomers Manny Rathor and Cam Frame from Duncan, Cam Farquhar from Crofton and Gryphon Rennie from Chemainus. The league is for players 19 to 25 years of age.
The only player not back from last season’s team is Adam Sakuma.
The Brewers will be a bit hampered at the start of the season because “both our top two pitchers are out right now,” Wheeler pointed out.
Once they get Jordy Frost and Jace Hamm back from injury, the Brewers will have a lot more depth and experience on the mound.
There’s one more weekend of exhibition games before the Brewers open league play against the Astros on Sunday, May 6 at noon and 3 p.m. at the Chemainus Ball Park.
“We’re definitely looking forward to getting the season going,” said Wheeler.
Meanwhile, Chemainus umpire-in-chief Roy Price is looking for more umpiring recruits.
“We have our young kids coming along,” he said. “The big thing is we need kids that are older to do older ball.”
Anyone interested in helping out can contact Price at 250-246-4205.