Bulls excited for new season

By Lethbridge Herald on May 25, 2023.

Herald photo by JUSTIN SEWARD Lethbridge Bulls’ Kalem Haney prepares to catch the ball to start a double-play drill at practice on Thursday at Spitz Stadium.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Bulls take to the field for the 2023 Western Canadian Baseball League season tonight with a sense of excitement.

“Yeah just you know early season excitement here,” said Chance Wheatley, Bulls head coach.

“(And) just kind of getting everyone here the first few days (and) kind of you know a few new faces from last year. So trying to  get to know everybody and yeah looking forward to (tonight).”

The club faced many injuries on the pitching staff last season and the focus going into this season was to bring in as many pitchers as possible.

“We had a bunch of injuries last year and weren’t able to fill those holes on the mound, and you know I think that was our focus this summer,” said Wheatley.

“And I think we did a good job.”

The coaching staff would like to see the innings spread out between pitchers this season in effort to keep guys fresh. 

Wheatley thinks the Bulls are going to be a deep squad.

“Just one through 30, I think everyone can contribute,” said Wheatley.

“I think just depth this year will be our biggest strength.”

Wheatley said it’s a deep league.

“And it’s kind of tough to scout prior to the season,” said Wheatley.

“So you never know. The league’s a good league, so it’s going to be very competitive.”

Returning pitcher Devin Benavides is excited to be back.

“I love the weather here in Canada and can’t wait to start,” said Benavides.

Benavides said “Yeah, they’re electric,” when asked about the pitching staff.

“I like all the guys here and can’t wait to start (today),” he said.

Benavides is focusing on staying healthy this year after his season was cut short in 2022 due to a muscle strain in his forearm.

Coaldale’s Torrin Vaselenek is playing in his fourth and final year with the club and will embrace the leadership role if called upon.

“It’s just one of those things that comes better naturally,” he said.

“So if that’s the role I have to take on, which it very well could be, then I’ll be happy to do that.”

Bulls general manager Kevin Kvame thinks the team has built a good roster in terms of building on the strengths the team had last year and on the weaknesses that were exposed.

“I think that we had a very strong infield and some core in the outfield,” said Kvame.

“You know last year kind of went south on us in July with injuries and things like that, that we couldn’t control. And in the end, they (the Bulls) battled right until the last weekend and came up tied I think  for the last playoff spot and just on a tie breaker lost it. So we were right there, right until the end, and I think that as long as we can stay healthy, and that’s always a key for any team in the league, … we’re going to be a much better club. I’m excited about our outfield and I’m excited about some of the pitchers we’ve brought in.”

The Bulls are still looking for billet families to take in players.

“We have four players that have no assigned housing for the season,” Lorien Johansen, Bulls’ guest services and administration.

“We are looking for billet families who have a spare room in their house that the player can sleep, shower (and) do his laundry. We do provide financial support for groceries. It’s a total of $750 per player this year. There is also a discount at some local vendors for these billet families to help support the cost of having a player.”

Each family will receive two season tickets per player that they host.

Interested billet families can contact the Bulls office either by email at customer.service@underthelights.ca or by calling (403) 320-2025.

The Bulls will begin the season tonight against the Medicine Hat Mavericks at Spitz Stadium with first pitch at 7 p.m.