Three West Kootenay Baseball players have headed across the border to compete in an elite tournament in Las Vegas over the weekend.
Trail’s Raiden Dobie and Darren Mailey will join Nelson’s Levi Konkin as they prepare to compete at the 34th Desert Fall Classic in Vegas.
Dobie and Konkin will represent Team BC on the pitch after impressing selectors at tryouts last month. The two 17-year-olds are used to playing together having both played for the Trail 18U Orioles the past two seasons in the BC Minor Baseball’s College Prep division.
Orioles head coach, Jim Maniago, is proud to see the boys recognized for the talents and is eager to the opportunities presented to them.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to see a higher level and to get some exposure to college coaches and things which is the next step for all of them.”
Dobie plays centrefield as well as pitches.
“He is a very big strong kid, and he’s got a real good arm.” said Maniago.
“He’s a good hitter and he’s also one of our reliable pitchers.”
“He had a good season, and I think, just from our games, that’s when he got recognized as a kid that at any moment in time could hit one out of the ballpark.”
Konkin has proven himself as a versatile player of the game, with his main position as a starting pitcher, who can also play infield and outfield.
“He is one of the better pitchers in our league and he’s a kid that again is hoping to play in college once he’s done high school.” said Maniago.
“There are some days where he was as good as anybody in the league you know, he has three pitches that he uses he throws for strikes, and he kept us in most games that he pitched.”
Mailey has taken a different pathway to the Classic and will play with another team after being scouted at summer camp.
Mailey is a left-handed pitcher and can play first-base.
“He is the hardest working kid I’ve ever coached,” said Maniago.
“So, I am really happy for him to get a chance to go down and get recognized and get a chance at playing some of these better teams.”
“I don’t know of anyone that’s been more dedicated and that wants to play baseball more than Darren.”
With all players interested on playing ball after High School, the Vegas tournament will provide further prospects for the future.
The tournament, which run from Friday October 25 to Sunday October 27, guarantees four-games per team, with the top teams from each pool moving on to a championship bracket.
Pool games will be played on Friday and Saturday and qualifying teams will play on a Sunday single elimination round. The championship games are played late Sunday afternoon.
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