KELOWNA CUBS

August 25/08-

Our first official practice is Tuesday August 26th/08 at Elk's Stadium at 5.30 pm.

We are booked there every Tuesday and Thursday evening until the end of September.

The cost for the program will be $300/player. These fees will cover the costs related to the running of the program including travel and accomodation to the Fall Classic which is on September 19,20 and 21.

We have Saturday Sept. 6 and Sunday Sept. 7 as well as Saturday Sept. 13 and Sunday Sept. 14 booked at Elk's. These weekend dates are available for games. We are working to bring teams to us on these dates but anyone who has played on the Bantam AAA, Midget AAA or Premier team already knows bringing teams here is like "pulling teeth". We may need to travel to the coast to get in more games and if we do the additional costs will be borne by those that attend.

Please note; The Fall ball program will be only one team. From this team we hope to identify players who are interested in playing on the Kelowna Cubs and on a "first year only" Midget team which will function as a "Junior Cubs"for 2009. However, neither team will be picked until the early Spring 2009.

August 10/2008-

The Kelowna Cubs are pleased to announce Pablo Ramirez as head coach for the 2008 Fall Ball Program. Pablo has just come off a successful season with his Rutland Rockies Midget AAA team. Pablo and his staff took the team to the Provincials for the first time in 4 years where they finshed 2 and 2.

The first practices will be Tuesday August 26 and Thursday August 28. Details about practice schedules, games schedules, fees, travel, etc will be given at these dates so please parents attend on one of these two dates. Location and times to be announced.

The goals for the Fall Ball Program include;

1) to identify and develop players who are interested in playing in the BC Premier Baseball League for the Kelowna Cubs for 2009

2) to identify and develop players who are interested in playing on an exhibition Junior Premier team for 2009. This team would be made up of only first year Midget players and would play exhibition games against our Premier team, Midget AAA teams, other Junior Premier teams, selected tournaments and possibly lock into the Midget AA Spring League. Participating in the Midget AA Spring league will require approval from our local associations as well as BCMBA.

The BCPBL is an exciting and challenging place to play baseball. Those wishing to participate in the Fall Ball Program can contact me at;

gregandsuestearns@shaw.ca

home 250-491-1031

Thanks and see you at the ball park,

Greg Stearns- GM

August 6, 2008

Thank You

Well, the season is over and as we look back and reflect I think we can all agree we thought we would have more wins than we finished with. However, I think we can look forward to next year knowing the returning players have gained valuble experience and will be better for it. Having said that, I have decided to retire from coaching. I want to thank all those that supported the team. Thanks to the players for their hard work under difficult circumstances. You guys kept at it until the end and you should be proud of yourselves for not giving up. Thank you to the parents for your cheering, encouragement and volunteer efforts. And most of all, thanks to Greg Stearns for all of the work he put into the Cubs organization. Enjoy the rest of your summer and good luck in the future...John

July 23, 2008

Mike Monster Makes Junior National Team Final Roster

The Kelowna Cubs are proud to announce that Mike Monster has been selected to the 18 man roster of the Canadian Junior National Team that will play in Edmonton at the World Junior Championships July 25 to August 3. You can follow Team Canada at 2 websites:

Baseball Canada http://66.241.210.162/eng_news.cfm

World Championships http://internationalbaseball.ca/

The Cubs congratulate Mike on his accomplishments.

July 21, 2008

Tuesday's Langley Games

Please be at Elks at 11:00 am for 1:00 pm and 3:30 pm start times.

July 7, 2008

Tuesday and Thursday practises will be held at Lombardy Park near Bankhead Elementary. Practice will begin at 5:30.

UPDATE - Cubs to Play BC Summer Games Team

The Kelowna Cubs will play the Okanagan Zone BC Summer Games team this Wednesday at Lombardy Park. Game time is 5:45 pm and players are to be at the park ready to go at 4:15 pm. Remember, "ready to go" means between the lines warming up.

June 27, 2008

Three Cubs Selected for Team BC

Three Kelowna Cubs have been selected to play for Team BC at the Urban Youth Academy fields in Compton, California. George Currie, Danny Stearns and Mike Monster will join other top BC baseball players for games against the Chicago White Sox Scout Team, the Cleveland Indians Scout Team, other top High School age teams from California as well as a select team from Mexico. Good luck to all three.

June 13, 2008

TRU Recruits Isotalo

Kelowna, BC - RHP/3B Mark Isotalo has been recruited by Ray Chadwick and the Thompson River University Wolfpack for this fall. Click on the TRU link below for the complete article.

www.tru.ca/athletics/history/news.html

June 9, 2008

Peron Signs with Douglas College

Kelowna, BC - RHP/CF Brendon Peron has signed his 'letter of intent' to play for the Douglas College Royals and Head Coach Josh Ridgeway next season. Douglas College plays in the highly competitive Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC). "Brendon has worked hard throughout his 3 years in the Cubs program and is an example of what the program is about - preparing players for the next level," said Cubs Head Coach John Monster.

Abbotsford Takes 2 from Cubs

The Abbotsford Cardinals won both ends of a doubleheader this past Saturday 8-0 and 4-0 over the Kelowna Cubs. Abbotsford pounded out 10 hits while Kelowna had 4 in game one. Cubs hits came from Danny Stearns, Brendon Peron, George Currie, and Landon Orr. Game two saw Abbotsford held to only 3 hits but Cubs hitters could only come up with 2 - a Brett Zazelenchuk single and a Cole Leimert double. Next up for the Cubs is their home opener this Saturday with a doubleheader against the North Delta Blue Jays. Another twin bill will take place Sunday.

June 3, 2008

Cubs Lose Close One Versus Abby

The Kelowna Cubs took a 4-3 lead into the 5th inning behind the solid pitching of Mark Isotalo but could not hold on as the Abbotsford Cardinals scored one in the 5th and 3 in the 6th to win 7-4. Brendon Peron and Madison Smith had 2 hits apiece for the Cubs while Danny Stearns and Aaron Tyacke each had a hit. Jesse Postnikoff contributed with a 2 run double. In the second game the Cards came out swinging as they pounded out 12 hits in easy 11-1 win. Ethan Vaughan and Postnikoff each had a hit while Madison Smith had a hard double off the centre field wall and scored the only Cubs run. Next up for the Cubs is a rematch in Abbotsford this Saturday.

May 26, 2008

Cubs Play Good Baseball in Coquitlam

The Cubs came up short in both ends of a double header this weekend against the Coquitlam Reds but played their best baseball of the year. Game one saw a pitchers battle as Coquitlam came away with a 2-1 win. Dawson Newman took the loss but was outstanding on the mound. Danny Stearns played his best game of the year with solid defense, going 2 for 3 at the plate with a walk and a stolen base. Cole Leimert was his usual solid self going 2 for 3 as well as his great defense at first base. George Currie chipped in with a single and an RBI. Game 2 saw Todd Leavitt get his first official PBL start. He went 4 innings and gave up 7 hits in a 7-3 loss. George Currie went 2 for 4 at the plate and is now batting .350 for the season. That should put him in the Top 10 hitters when the stats get updated. Singles also went to Andrew Gordon, Jimmy Semaschuk, Brendon Peron, Graham Drope and Brett McLure. Drope also contributed with solid defense all day. Next up for the Cubs is a Saturday doubleheader in Abbotsford against the Cardinals.

Michael Monster and the Canadian Junior National Team

If you want to follow Michael and the Junior National team, go to the following link:

http://66.241.210.162/eng_news.cfm

For yesterday's game, go to:

http://66.241.210.162/eng_news_story.cfm?NewsID=1238

May 21, 2008

Parksville Tournament Results

The Cubs had a good showing in Parksville over the weekend. Although going 1 - 4 in the won/loss column, they showed strong improvement in most areas of the game. Cubs pitchers held their opponents to fewer hits while the Cubs hitters outhit them in 3 of the 5 games. Some standouts were, Jimmy Semaschuk (player of the weekend), Madison Smith (2 doubles in one game), Todd Leavitt (winner against North Shore 9-3), Andrew Gordon (strong behind the plate), Jeremy Kral (also strong behind the plate), George Currie (doing it with his glove instead of his hitting), and Cole Leimert (strong defense at 1B). The Cubs were in each game and with some luck could have been 3-2. Next up for the Cubs is a double header against Coquitlam on Sunday at Mundy Park.

May 14, 2008

Unfortunately, there are no fields available for BP so no practise tonight. See you tomorrow.

April 9, 2008

2008 Kelowna Cubs Season Preview

The 2008 version of the Kelowna Cubs returns 6 players from last year's squad and looks to improve greatly over its performance last year. New Head Coach John Monster along with Pitching Coach Jamie Wolkosky, Assistant Coaches Mike Stearns and Justin Vion, and Strength & Conditioning Coach Sylvio Leblanc have worked hard over the winter to create a program that will be competitive in every way during the Cub's 5th year of existence.

Returning senior RHP pitchers Brendon Peron and Brett Zazelenchuk as well as 2nd year LHP Dawson Newman look much stronger than a year ago and will be looked upon to provide quality starts throughout the season. Peron and Zazelenchuk will also play roles at SS and outfield respectively. 3rd year outfielder Jesse Postnikoff looks to rebound from a knee injury that cost him most of last season and has worked extremely hard to prepare himself for the grind of a long PBL season. Postnikoff will also be looked upon to take a leadership role on the young club. Mark Isotalo, a senior 3B, has shown huge improvements over the winter and will be counted on to play the hot corner as well as eat up some innings on the hill. Behind the plate, Andrew Gordon appears to have recovered from an injury and will play an important role in the success of the club.

Players moving up from the Midget AAA Rutland Rockies include hard throwing RHP Michael Monster. Monster has already shown the benefits of the conditioning program he committed to this winter with his fastball reaching 90 mph early this Spring. He will be with the team on weekends he is not with the Canadian Junior National Team, should he be selected to that program. Cole Leimert has shown a strong bat to go along with a superb glove at 1B and Ethan Vaughan will provide a strong bat and arm from the outfield. Strike throwing machine Travis Sutherland also moves up from Midget AAA and will be asked to eat up alot of innings on the mound.

Newcomers to the Kelowna baseball community include Calgary native and Junior National Team RHP Cam Wych. Wych, a supremely competitive player, will play for the Cubs on weekends he is not with the JNT's, should he also be selected to the program. The Cubs also welcome 2 players from Prince George. Madison Smith is a hard hitting OF/1B and Jeremy Kral will play the catcher's position, pitch and brings with him a strong left handed bat. From Whitehorse comes big Jimmy Semaschuk. Semaschuk brings a big left handed bat as well as a work ethic that will set an example for everyone.

The most promising aspect of the 2008 Cubs is its group of first year players. Middle infielders Danny Stearns and Graham Drope, 3B George Currie, catcher Landon Orr, and pitchers Todd Leavitt and Jeff May all graduated from Bantam AAA and look to become core players on future Cubs teams. Hard hitting 3B/OF Brett McLure looks to make an impact as a first year player as well.

With solid starting pitching, consistent defense, and timely hitting the young 2008 Cubs look forward to their best year yet and a trip to the BCPBL Championship tournament in August.

April 8 , 2008

Change to Long Toss Location

Please note that we will meet at the Apple Bowl for this week only for long toss and conditioning. Park in the Dr. Knox parking lot. See you at 5:00 pm.

April 4, 2008

Exhibition Games

This weekends game against the Kelowna Jr. Jays has been cancelled. However, we will be playing a game against the Midget AAA Rutland Rockies. The game will start at 11:00 am at Elks Stadium this Sunday. Please be at the park at 9:00 am for the warmup and BP.