THUNDER BAY – Opening Day has arrived.
It’s an exciting time of year to be a ballplayer in the Northwoods League, a chance to show professional scouts you have what it takes to go all the way, or an opportunity to show your college or university coach you deserve a little more playing time.
It’s a grind not all newcomers are used to undertaking, 72 games in 76 days, batters given the added task of adjusting to switching from aluminum to ash at the plate.
But if Monday’s first team practice was any indication, it might not be much of a problem for this year’s edition of the Thunder Bay Border Cats.
While batting practice tosses aren’t the same as facing a hungry college starter on the mound, Dixie State University sluggers Tyson Fisher and Jake Engel were launching balls over the fence at Port Arthur Stadium with ease, adding a little more character to an already-beaten-up scoreboard in left-field.
Engel, a Tuscon, Ariz. native expected to be inserted in the middle of the Border Cats lineup by first-year manager Eric Vasquez, after hitting 14 home runs in 53 games for the Trailblazers, a solid clip by any standards.
The 21-year-old says he’s just going to play his game – which seems to have worked out fairly well through three years of college ball.
“It’s not trying to change too much, not trying to put too much pressure on myself. I’m just going to go out there and play the game, play every day,” he said.
He’s here for a reason, Engel added.
“It’s pretty well known for being one of the best leagues in the country. So I think being able to come here, learn from the guys, learn from the coaches and just get back to Dixie and be a better player.”
Fisher, a freshman with the Trailblazers, checks in at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, and showed an uncanny ability to hit in his rookie season at DSU, hitting .363 with eight home runs, 14 doubles 41 RBI and a healthy .415 on base percentage.
A three-time all-state player in high school, he was also the defensive player of the year on the gridiron. Oh, and he can pitch pretty well to boot.
“I always wanted to come to Canada, it’s a pretty nice place,” said Fisher, who hails from St. George, Utah, between cuts in the batting cage.
“I’ve got a little bit of power, but I’m just trying to help us win some games. That’s about it,” he said.
Starting on a winning note is key, Fisher added.
“It’s pretty important to get off to a quick start, win the first 10 games and then go from there,” Fisher said.
One player who won’t have much of an adjustment is Thunder Bay’s own Bryce Jorgenson.
The son of the team’s former owner, Jorgenson has seen limited action with the team the past three seasons.
But a solid season with the Minnesota-Crookston Golden Eagles that saw him hit .260 with 14 doubles and 13 RBI, drawing 36 walks in 49 games, has him excited to finally be able to contribute in a utility role.
“It’s the classic story, bat boy to player,” Jorgenson said, meeting his new teammates for the first time on Monday.
“The first couple of years were like feeling it out, doing my best to keep up. Now that I’ve had a couple of years in college, I kind of know what to expect. I play with these guys for a little while, so it’s more or less not trying to keep up, it’s trying to compete,” he said.
The Cats will kick off their 17th season Tuesday night against Duluth. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
