It’s the beginning of a new era for the Moose Jaw AAA Devons. With a new name and a new coaching staff, the team is optimistic about the new season to begin.
“It is definitely a new name and it’s a new era,” said Devons head coach, Don Anderson. “I hope to be able to bring the kids to the next level and get back to the winning ways and be a strong contender for a provincial championship.
“We definitely have a new attitude. There is a new coaching staff, a new approach and different outlook on the game and the way it needs to be played. Hopefully, with the name change comes a change in philosophy and change in attitude.”
In November 2011, the Moose Jaw Baseball Association decided to retire the Cardinal name and brought back the Devons name.
“The Cardinal name was retired this year and the Devons, which actually isn’t an old name,” Anderson explained. “The Devons have a tradition as a former Moose Jaw names in the city back in the early ‘70s and ‘80s.”
This year’s team will be a good mix of young and experienced talent, with some of the veteran players providing the leadership for some of the first year midget players, including Tanner Spencer who was part of the junior national team.
“We are going to be a young group,” said Anderson. “We have a pretty good mix of some returning players and some high end players from the Canada Cup team. I think we will be okay defensively as well as offensively.
“Pitching is always a question mark. We’ve got four returning arms, but you never know until they get into game situations on how they are going to react to the high level hitters.”
For more on this story, read an upcoming edition of the Times-Herald.
