Kentville Wildcats home opener slated for May 24

The senior Wildcats are scheduled to host Halifax at 7:30 p.m. May 24 for the home opener.

Wildcats head coach Ian Mosher is encouraged by the number of returning players donning the coveted Wildcats uniform this season.

“I’m optimistic. I think as a playoff team last year we gained experience in playing in that environment. I hope that that will translate into better performance this year down the stretch… to get to that level again this season,” said Mosher.

“I had a very young team and… they finished in first place in the regular season.”

The Wildcats roster has yet to be finalized, but Mosher already knows the team will have more depth in pitching, and hitters with more experience at bat in the highly competitive league.

“My guys are ready to go. They’re certainly excited. They’ve been hitting every since New Year’s,” he said.

One key element they might not have this season, however, is veteran shortstop Ian Lockhart.

“Ian Lockhart has arguably been the best short stop in Canada for the last ten years and he will not be starting the season with us,” said Mosher, adding that this would be a major loss for the Wildcats.

“He was a very calming influence on our younger players. When he was there we always played better.”

However, if there’s anyone who knows how to roll with the roster changes it’s sure to be Mosher. A charter member of the Wildcats organization, Mosher has dedicated 40 years to the team – both functioning as a player and a coach.

“I remember my mother telling me as a child… about coming to Memorial Park on a summer night to watch the best baseball around,” he said.

That same level of ball is still played in Kentville today, Mosher stressed. The main difference, he added, is that a lot more people stay home to watch games on TV.

“If you get disillusioned every night with watching millionaires fail, you can come down and watch some of your local kids that have grown up playing baseball in the communities of the Valley… take their turn wearing Wildcats uniforms,” he said.  

“It’s an honour to wear that uniform, and play and inherit some of that Wildcat tradition.”

Mosher sees Memorial Park as a heritage site best enjoyed on game day.

“It’s live and there’s nothing quite like live baseball.”

Catch the NSSBL Kentville Wildcats in action at Memorial Park:

- May 24 at 7:30 p.m. vs Halifax

- May 31 at 7:30 p.m. vs Dartmouth

- June 14 at 7:30 p.m. vs Truro

- June 18 at 7 p.m. vs Halifax

- June 23 at 7 p.m. vs Sydney

- June 24 at noon vs Sydney

- July 5 at 7:30 p.m. vs Dartmouth

- July 12 at 7:30 p.m. vs Halifax

- July 19 at 7:30 p.m. vs Halifax

- July 23 at 2 p.m. vs Truro

- July 23 at 5 p.m. vs Truro

- Aug. 2 at 7:30 p.m. vs Truro

- Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. vs Dartmouth