In about three weeks Western Major Baseball League (WMBL) Yorkton Cardinals will take to the field to open their 2011 baseball season in the 11 team league.
Team manager and club president Bill Sobkow says the players currently listed on the roster are still playing college baseball with the finals for many teams taking place this weekend. While he's confident most of those committed to the Cardinals will arrive in Yorkton by the end of the month, Sobkow admits there's always the possibility some may not show up for various reasons. Usually about 20 per cent are lost to the Cardinals because of summer school requirements and injuries. He says he'll have a better idea of his players by the end of next week.
The Cardinals have made league history by signing the first female baseball player, Ghaza-leh Sailors, to the team.
Last year Sailors, currently a senior at San Marcos High School in San Marcos, California, was one of eighteen girls selected to the U.S. National Women's Baseball Team that competed in Venezuela at the World Women's Baseball Championship team. Sailors was among over 800 women who tried out.
Sailors will attend her high school graduation June 2 and will be joining the Cardinals on June 3 when they play their first road game in Regina against the Red Sox.
"We are very pleased to be able to give Ghazaleh an opportunity to further her career in the WMBL," said Cardinals president and team manager Sobkow. "I was flattered that she turned to us for the next step in her career."
"We are very proud to be the first WMBL team to have a female player, and see this as a major step for both the WMBL and other female players, who have Ghazaleh to look up to. Ghazaleh is a great young lady, and we hope the Cardinals can offer her a beneficial experience on and off the field, in her summer in Yorkton," Sobkow adds.
The recent drop in diesel fuel prices may ease some of the concerns about travel to road games and therefore the Cardinals' travel schedule, says Sobkow. However concerns about travel dictated a schedule which will see fewer trips as teams double up on games around the league.
This year the Cardinals will play 42 games, 21 at home at Jubilee Park.
The Cardinals will host the Regina Red Sox Wednesday, June 1 under the lights at 7:05 p.m.
Sobkow anticipates the field and spectator stands will be ready for the home opener as the City of Yorkton generally does a very good job of preparing and maintaining the field and park every summer. "Overall they have the field in top condition all the time." he says.
This year the coaching staff will have a different look. In addition to Sobkow, the Cardinals have signed on a pair of assistant coaches. Jared Franklin, from Ohio, is currently coaching at Texas International University at Laredo Texas. Franklin will be joined by assistant coach ND Gonzalez who will also play baseball for the Cardinals.
Looking around the league, Sobkow predicts that Saskatoon will put together a top team.
The league will operate with 11 teams in three divisions again this year he reports. The West Division will be home to the Okotoks Dawgs, Lethbridge Bulls, Medicine Hat Mavericks, and Edmonton Pros-pects. The Central Division will include the Swift Current Indians, Moose Jaw Miller Express and Saskatoon Yellowjackets. East Division teams will be the Yorkton Cardinals, Regina Red Sox, Melville Millionaires and Weyburn Beavers. The west will play 48 games while the east and central divisions will play 42 games.
Sobkow says he's really looking forward to the season. He wants to improve on last year. In addition to the rained out games, he wasn't happy with missing the playoffs. He felt the Cardinals were a good team with solid pitching, and great fielding. He admits perhaps the hitting might have been better. "It would be nice to try to get in this year," he comments.
The Yorkton Cardinals mourn the passing of former player Ryan Neal of Saltcoats who was taken suddenly. The team will be retiring his number 35 and will honor his memory at an upcoming home game, Sobkow announces.
