The Easter  long weekend will bring with it, the home opener for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack baseball team. The WolfPack will entertain the Okanagan College Coyotes of Kelowna, BC and the Prairie Baseball Academy Dawgs of Lethbridge, Alberta in a pair of doubleheaders.  The teams will play Saturday and Sunday (March 30-31) at Norbrock Stadium. The WolfPack and the Dawgs share first place in the Canadian College Baseball Conference standings at 4 and 0.  Okanagan College has a record of 2 and 2.  Thompson Rivers downed Okanagan College and  the University of Calgary in two games last weekend.   Prairie Baseball Academy took four from the other team in the CCBC—the Vancouver Island Baseball Institute Mariners. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] WolfPack head coach Ray Chadwick (right) along with assistant Frank Ingram[/caption] “We know Okanagan and how they play after this past weekend,” says WolfPack head coach Ray Chadwick. “ We will have to play as well as we did when we beat them again.  PBA---everybody knows the history between the two of us. It is always great baseball. We are always at the top of the league. I don’t see it being any different. It will be good, fun baseball.” The Dawgs and the WolfPack have had a storied past which has included many close and heated games. Chadwick has had a little advance scouting on PBA. “ I don’t think they have the pitching that they had in the past.  They lost most of their staff but brought in a couple of kids who are supposed to be pretty good.  I know that they got the majority of their offensive line up back.  They will swing the bats and score some runs again.   We will do the same and hopefully come out on top.” PBA catcher Travis Steinke (Red Deer, AB) leads the Canadian College Baseball League in runs batted in with seven. The WolfPack have been swinging some hot bats of late. They racked up 36 runs in their first four games while giving up 13.   “We can continue that if the guys go to the plate with the same attitude they had last week,” Chadwick explains. “ Regardless of the pitching we face—they still have to throw strikes and we have to swing at strikes and have good approaches. We had a lot of at bats this past weekend up and down the batting order.”    [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] David Hole prepares to lay down a bunt in Batting Practice[/caption]  The ‘Pack  have been led by catcher David Hole (Vancouver, BC),outfielder Brent Carmichael (Victoria, BC) along with infielders Brandon Reid (Calgary, AB) and Landon Briscoe (North Vancouver, BC). [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Brent Carmichael interviewed by Mark Hunter of Kamloops Daily News[/caption] Hole is hitting .429 with six runs batted in and a homer.    Carmichael is hitting .444.   Reid leads the CCBC in batting average (.583) with five runs batted in, seven hits and two doubles.  Briscoe has five runs batted in and is hitting .364. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="386"] Brendan Reid (Allen Douglas photo)[/caption] “Kind of knew he would hit,” Chadwick smiles as he talks about Hole. “ There is no doubt that the kid can flat out hit. When you get guys getting on base in front of him and get a guy or two behind him who have a little success, the opposition has to pitch to him.  If they do, he is going to hit.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] LucSimpson in batting practice[/caption] Another player earning early rave reviews is outfielder Luc Simpson of Aldergrove, BC.  “ I knew he could hit,” says Chadwick.  “When he left high school and went to the States for a year. It was a matter of getting him here and adjusted to our system. He is a baseball guy and loves the game. He does whatever it takes to win.  He fits right into our program.” Simpson has an average of .273 with three hits, a triple and three runs batted in so far. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Jimmy Semeschuk in 2011 (Andrew Snucins photo)[/caption] In 2012, the WolfPack were led offensively by Hole, Alex Condon and Jimmy Semeaschuk (all later named CCBC all-stars).  Will they have the same clout this year with Hole and Simpson? [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] Alex Condon in the 2012 CCBC Championships (Allen Douglas photo)[/caption] “Luc won’t hit with the power that Jimmy and Alex had,” Chadwick explains. “ He will hit for a higher average and steal a few more bases than Jimmy will.  Alex played all around. It will be tough to replace his power and speed.  Luc Simpson will fit right in and hit either in front or behind Dave Hole to give him some protection.” [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500"] David Hole (Andrew Snucins photo)[/caption] Game times this weekend are Saturday (Mar 30) 2 pm against Okanagan College and 4:30 pm against PBA.  On Easter Sunday (Mar 31), the WolfPack will take on PBA at 1 pm and Okanagan College at 4 pm.