Play ball!
The Kelowna Falcons of the West Coast League (WCL) are set to open their 25th anniversary season on Friday, May 30, against the Victoria HarbourCats.
Going into the season, the Falcons will be looking to improve after a down year in 2024 in which they went 20-34.
The team consists of 49 university baseball players from across Canada, the United States, and even Australia. The roster does include three Kelowna natives Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥” pitchers Cohen Bydlowski, Barrett Froehler and Max Trembly.
Head coach Doug Noce and assistant Angelo Loomis are both returning for their third season while Cole Van Every is returning to an assistant coach role after taking last season off. Kevin Tucker is also joining the team as a third assistant coach.
The WCL is a collegiate summer league consisting of 17 teams, each playing a 54-game schedule. The teams run from B.C. down to Washington State and Oregon, with the other Canadian teams being Victoria, the Kamloops NorthPaws, and the Nanaimo NightOwls.
Kelowna has never won a WCL championship, losing in the finals twice (2015 and 2018).
Some players that suited for the Falcons that made it to MLB are James Paxton, Phil Maton and Connor Joe.
Tickets are available for the Falcons opening day and the other 27 home games on their . Friday's first pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.