THUNDER BAY – A year ago, neither Billy Cook nor Alex Nolan looked like much of an all-star calibre type of baseball player.
How things change in 12 months.
Both are integral pieces of the Thunder Bay Border Cats 2018 puzzle, leading the way on a team that’s struggled in the standings, producing night in and night out when called upon by manager Mitch Feller.
The two will represent the Border Cats on Tuesday in Kalamazoo, Mich. at the annual Northwoods League all-star game, a well-deserved honour for both Nolan and Cook.
Last summer, Cook saw action in just 29 games, hitting a so-so .247 with just two extra base hits. It’s an entirely different story in 2018.
Cook is second in the league in doubles with 17, tied for the lead in triples at four, and his .312 batting average and 29 RBI place the Monument, Col., native solidly inside the top 20 in both categories.
“It’s a big honour, I’m very happy,” Cook said during a recent home-stand. “I’m excited to go represent Thunder Bay and just play against some really good guys and play with some that we’ve been playing against all season.
“It should be a good experience and a good opportunity.”
Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore at Pepperdine College, added he’s excited to showcase his talents to the major league scouts who will undoubtedly be in the stands during the all-star festivities.
“Hopefully I can show other people, scouts and coaches, what I’m capable of,” he said.
The difference this summer is experience, Cook said.
“Last year I was right out of high school and it was a big learning experience. This was my first taste of college baseball, not Pepperdine,” he said.
“So I was able to learn a lot here, especially from Andy (Weber), who was a great guy to learn from. I took that to Pepperdine and learned and this year I was able to play freely, not worry about what college is about.”
Like Cook, Nolan wasn’t exactly a standout in his 2017 debut.
A Burlington, Ont. native who plays for Brock University, Nolan made one start for the Cats last summer, giving up three runs on six hits over six innings in a 6-5 loss to Willmar.
Undeterred, he was eager to return for a second chance and has made the most of it.
Nolan, 22, is 4-2 over seven starts, posting a 3.60 earned run average while striking out 24 over 45 innings.
The Canadian right-hander said making the all-star team was a personal goal when he entered the league, which makes his selection that much more special.
“There are a lot of good players here and it could have been anybody,” Nolan said. “It’s appreciated to be looked at and noticed.”
Like Cook, it’s a chance to be seen, a rarity for Canadian university players.
“It’s a pretty big showcase, but it just means I’ve got to work that much harder now that I’ve been given the opportunity. It also means a lot to come from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont. These people here go, ‘Where is that?’ said Nolan, who is also trying to forget his past two starts, roughed up for a combined 12 runs on 18 hits over 10 innings.
“When I say it’s in the OUA, they say, ‘What’s the OUA?’”
