Lethbridge Bulls host Fort McMurray Giants in 2019 home opener

While a lacklustre season, it wasn’t a wasted one. Bulls officials are hoping 2018 was a rebuilding year, with the team now looking forward to a 2019 season that could see them compete for the WCBL championship.

2018 WCBL Rookie of the Year award winner, 1B Kaleb Warden and 2018 WCBL Canadian Rookie of the Year award winner, C Jaret Semeniuk both headline the crop of returning players this season.

A year ago, Warden posted a slash line of .369/.444/.542 with seven home runs and 38 RBI in 46 games, while Semeniuk led all WCBL catchers in batting average and on-base percentage, slashing an impressive .371/.451/.900 over 30 games.

Other notables returning to the club this year include SS Nick Ankermann, 3B Dylan Borman, and P Jaden Griffin.

Ankermann will be entering his third season in the WCBL and second with the Bulls. The righty-swinging shortstop played for the Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds in the NCAA Division II – Lone Star Division this past season and put up tremendous numbers, batting .360, with two home runs and 29 RBI in 44 games.

Borman is heading into his third season with Lethbridge and will be looking to build off of what he accomplished a year ago when he batted .282 while clobbering seven home runs and driving in 35 RBI in 44 games.

Griffin is currently attending Virginia Commonwealth University and is entering his second season with the Bulls. The lefty had a solid campaign a year ago and emerged as one of the Bulls top and most consistent starting pitchers, posting a 3.19 ERA, while striking out 28 batters in five starts for the Bulls.

There were 11 NCAA Division I players added to the Bulls roster over the off-season, which included eight pitchers.

NCAA Division I additions:

– Jaden Griffin (P) – Virginia Commonwealth University

– Evan Chenier (P) – Virginia Commonwealth University

– Ben Erwin (P) – Niagara University

– Cal Theal (P) – Niagara University

– Jordan Parranto (P) – Niagara University

– Dylan Steen (P) – Washington State University

– Adam Macko (P) – Purdue University

– Chase Florendine (P) – California State University Northridge

– Grant Kerry (OF) – Boise State University

– Parker Smejkal (OF) – University of Nebraska Omaha

– Brett Mercier (OF) – Fairleigh Dickinson University

Head coach Jesse Sawyer says recruiting was front of mind for his staff over the off-season, and they worked to address some of the weaknesses that were evident in 2018.

“We’ve built off last year and adjusted off of our weaknesses,” Sawyer continued. “Our biggest weakness last year was on the mound. It was partly a bit of recruiting, and we had some injuries at wrong times, and what could go wrong last year did.”

President and General Manager Kevin Kvame and his staff are very excited about the roster that they’ve been able to compile.

“Coach Sawyer’s done a great job through the off-season to put a roster on the field that we feel will be very competitive this year. We have several prospects that are coming in that are playing in Division I schools, and younger talent. We have a couple of young pitchers coming out of Vauxhall coming in – we’re hoping that they’re going to pitch for us – but there’s also a good chance that one or both go may in the draft, which would be exciting as well for them,” Kvame said.

“We wish them well in the draft, but if they don’t sign or can come and pitch for us this summer, I think they would be very exciting to come out and see that level of talent that we could have on the team,” Kvame added.

After tonight’s game, the Bulls will finish out a three-game homestand on Friday against Fort McMurray and on Saturday against the Medicine Hat Mavericks.

by Aaron Mahoney (with files from the Lethbridge Bulls)

Lethbridge Bulls host Fort McMurray Giants in 2019 home opener

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