The desert sun will provide the backdrop for the who kick off the 2018 baseball season this week with their annual winter trip to Arizona.

Beginning Friday, Geoff White鈥檚 Canadian College Baseball Conference team will play 14 exhibition games in an eight-day span against U.S.-based college programs.

Among OC鈥檚 opponents will be three schools cited in Perfect Game鈥檚 pre-season rankings of junior colleges鈥擭o. 4 College of Southern Nevada, No. 7 Central Arizona College and No. 12 Yavapai College.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity to get a ton of games in a short time, in good weather against some really good competition,鈥� said White, the Coyotes head coach and program manager. 鈥淚t usually takes a game or two to shake off the rust, then the guys start to find their game. There鈥檚 no better way for us to kick off the season.鈥�

The Coyotes, who are making the trip to Arizona for the seventh straight year, have 38 players on the roster this season, including 13 freshman.

White said it鈥檚 one of the more experienced OC teams to hit the field in the program鈥檚 10-year history.

鈥淲e have an older group this year, we have six fifth-year seniors and good group of fourth-year guys,鈥� said White. 鈥淲e have a lot of experience and hopefully that will be an advantage for us when it comes to conference play this season.鈥�

White鈥檚 club will be led into battle in 2018 by the likes of senior Davis Todosichuk, and fellow outfielders Jeremy Buckley and Alex Russell.

Leading the infield are fifth-years Brandon Graham, Jared Dulaba and Jared Frew, while Jake Fischer and Jacob Holland are returning behind the plate.

The pitching staff will be anchored by fifth-year seniors Cole Parussini and Brandon Becking, and fourth-years Zac Yandeau and Trevor Brigden.

鈥� OC Coyotes Baseball (@YotesBaseball)

Upon returning home, the Coyotes will visit Douglas College for a pair of exhibition games, March 3 and 4, then will host Edmonton in a pre-season series March 16 to 18 at Elks Stadium.

OC will open the CCBC regular season the following weekend in 琉璃神社 against the seven-time defending league-champion Prairie Baseball Academy Dawgs.

Coyotes, A鈥檚 fundraiser鈥�

The Coyotes and Okanagan Athletics baseball teams will host a Trivia and Comedy Fundraiser Evening on Friday, March 6 at Okanagan College.

Proceeds from the event go to support the growth and development of the two 琉璃神社-based baseball programs.

In addition to trivia and comedy, there will be prizes and a silent auction.

There will be a cash bar and some light appies provided by Moxies Grill and Bar.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., trivia begins at 7:15 p.m., followed by comedy at 9:30 p.m. at OC KLO Campus Centre for Learning.

Early bird tickets are $45 each (until Feb. 13) and are available at

Cash donations and sponsorship inquiries can be made by contacting Lisa Tongue at 250-870-8243 or by email at lisatongue@shaw.ca.

To report a typo, email: edit@kelownacapnews.com.

whenderson@kelownacapnews.com
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