PBA host Golden Tide to kick off homestand

By Lethbridge Herald on April 7, 2023.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Prairie Baseball Academy Dawgs start the home portion of their schedule today at Lloyd Nolan Yard after winning seven of eight games on the road to start the season.

PBA (7-1) plays four games against the Victoria Collegiate Golden Tide (5-3) on Saturday at noon and 4 p.m. and on Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Lloyd Nolan Yard.

“Yeah same preparation as every week,” said PBA coach Todd Hubka.

“(Just) go through (and) make sure we’re solid defensively and go through all (of) our defensive work and of course we hit lots. Yeah just we’re looking forward to finally playing at home. You know nothing changes week to week.”

Hubka expects Victoria coming in off a sweep of Fraser Valley to be fired up.

“And  you know hopefully we continue just taking care of the ball and I think we’ll be OK,” said Hubka.

Hubka did not know much when  asked about a scouting report on Victoria.

“We only get to play them four times a year and on one weekend,” said Hubka.

“So I don’t know much about them. So we’ll see. If we worry about ourselves and do the things that we do well, then I expect good things to happen.”

The feeling of excitement is around the team heading into the home opener.

“Yeah, they’re excited,” said Hubka.

“You could tell. You know we’re not on a 10-hour bus ride somewhere and you know the kids did a lot of work on the field to make sure it’s ready for (today). It’s early in the year still and frost coming out of the ground and stuff like that. And so we had quite a bit of work to do to make sure the field is ready for (today).”

For about half of the roster, this will be their first home games at Lloyd Nolan Yard.

“We have a heavy sophomore group this year,” said Hubka.

“So we’ll be fine with the home nerves I guess if you want call them that.”