David Story Field in Longview, Washington, isn鈥檛 exactly Petco Park in San Diego, where Victoria鈥檚 Mike Saunders and the rest of the MLB all-stars strutted their stuff last week.
But Story Field could indeed tell a story and be a launching pad. There will be more than 30 MLB scouts on hand tonight in southern Washington state for the 2016 West Coast League all-star game.
Of the six Victoria HarbourCats selected for the showcase, Ben Polshuk has the most work to do. The league home run co-leader, tied with five along with Colorado Rockies draft-pick Michael Toglia of the Wenatchee AppleSox, is also entered in the WCL home-run derby that precedes the all-star game.
鈥淚鈥檓 just going to keep it simple and relaxed,鈥� said Polshuk, by phone from Longview.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good atmosphere. It鈥檚 fun to be around the best players from the different teams.鈥�
There is nothing really you can do to prepare yourself for a home run derby, said Polshuk.
鈥淲e try to take the ball out [of the park] in warming up before games,鈥� he noted.
But this presents a different level of pressure in trying to do so in front of fans and scouts. Even though Polshuk and Toglia are the co-favourites, the HarbourCats slugger is playing it low key.
鈥淚 hope to hit a few balls out and stay with these guys over a few rounds,鈥� said the hitter from Cal Poly, averaging .283 with 15 RBIs for Victoria.
The other HarbourCats position players/hitters selected for the all-star game are Griffin Andreychuk of Nanaimo and Jarron Silva from Stockton, California.
鈥淚鈥檓 extremely fortunate to be with such a large group from my own team,鈥� said Silva, a graduating Grade 12 player hitting .325 for Victoria, and headed to his freshman season in the Pac-12 for the UCLA Bruins.
鈥淲e play for each other and we鈥檝e had a great season [the HarbourCats have a league-best record of 28-8 and have already clinched a playoff berth].鈥�
One of the main reasons for that has been the Victoria starting pitching.
That is reflected in the three HarbourCats pitchers named for the all-star game 鈥� Austin Dondanville, Josh Mitchell and Will McAffer.
鈥淚t鈥檚 clicked this year, and obviously, the stats show that,鈥� said Mitchell, of the NCAA Pitt Panthers, who is 5-0 for the HarbourCats.
鈥淚鈥檝e had command of my pitches this summer.鈥�
Yet, nothing can prepare one for the peculiar nature of an all-star game.
鈥淓ven though it鈥檚 only one inning I鈥檒l get [tonight], I鈥檒l still be looking to make it count by throwing strikes,鈥� said Mitchell.
Jim Swanson, the HarbourCats co-owner and managing director, is with his six players in Longview. He is also one of four Detroit Tigers scouts assembled for the WCL all-star game. He told his charges to put the scouts out of mind and just soak in the experience.
鈥淵ou play best when you鈥檙e having fun,鈥� said Swanson.
鈥淎nd how many all-star games will any player have an opportunity to play in, at any level, in their careers?鈥�
So enjoy the ride.
FOUL TIPS: The HarbourCats beat the Elks 7-3 Sunday in Bend, Oregon, to take the three-game set 2-1. Silva had three hits with two runs and an RBI while Cameron Schneider went six innings with a six hitter to take the win . . . Fresno State catcher Joe Prior of the HarbourCats was named WCL player of the week for going 11-for-20 with a double, homer, five RBIs and four runs scored. . . Victoria opens a three-game home set Wednesday at Royal Athletic Park against the Bellingham Bells . . . Lori Swanson of Victoria will be singing O sa国际传媒 tonight before the all-star game . . . The HarbourCats have supplemented their pitching depth by adding right-handers Indigo Diaz, a six-footer from North Vancouver, and re-signing Victoria Eagles product Ethan Skuija, a six-foot-three hurler from the UBC Thunderbirds.
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