The last couple of years, the Red Deer Riggers’ nemesis has been the Calgary Rockies.
The Riggers lost in the first round of the provincial and Sunburst Baseball League playoffs to the Rockies the past two seasons.
That’s something they’re looking to change this year.
“They have a couple real good pitchers and last year they went on to win it all,” said Riggers president/ head coach Jaret Chatwood. “So to be the best we have to beat the best and that’s what we’re looking at this season.
“We just have to swing it. I know last year I didn’t hit that well and Tyler (McWillie) didn’t hit as well as he would like. Hopefully, we have bounce-back years.
“The thing was we were bad,” said Chatwood with a laugh.
“We just have to make sure we’re hot from game one.
“Overall, we were solid last year, and from what I’ve seen, we’ll be real solid again this year. We lost a couple of guys but added a couple younger guys so we’ll be right in the mix again.”
The Riggers lost veteran outfielder Derrick Chapman, second baseman Corbyn Shields and pitcher Rees DeRuyter along with reserve outfielder Roen Helgren.
First baseman-outfielder Carter Claerhout, who returned last year after playing with the Lethbridge Bulls of the Western Canada Baseball League, has returned to the Bulls.
As well outfielder-pitcher Heath Hachkowski has indicated he’s looking for a spot in the WCBL.
“If not he’ll likely be back,” said Chatwood.
The Riggers will also be without outstanding centrefielder Ryley Doig for at least part of the season, if not all, after he tore his Achilles Tendon in February.
“That’s something that can take a while to come back from,” said Chatwood. “Hopefull,y we get him later in the summer.”
As well, outfielder Zach Olsen is gone after moving to Texas with his wife late last season, and catcher Gavin Galenza is with the Sylvan Lake Gulls full time this year.
The Riggers did add pitcher Nate Mountjoy, outfielder Maguire Grant and infielder Alex Lemieux.
Mountjoy, a graduate of the St. Joe’s Academy and the Red Deer U18 national champion Braves, attended Garden City Community College in Kansas this season along with Sawyer Marshall, who is expected to take over for Doig in centrefield.
Marshall was also listed as a pitcher for Garden City.
St. Joe’s Academy grad and Red Deer native, lefthanded pitcher Dominick Skjonsberg also attends Garden City.
Galenza and Riggers infielder Matt Murray both attend Colby Community College in Kansas.
Grant is also a grad of St. Joe’s while Lemieux moved to Innisfail from Quebec and will likely fill the spot vacated by Shields.
“I think he will be a solid addition,” said Chatwood, who likes what he sees when it comes to his infield.
Murray and Mason Love-Hollman return giving them a solid left side of the infield along with Chatwood, who plays third base and backs up Kyle Belich at catcher.
Ace right-hander Josh Edwards plays at first when not on the mound while McWillie plays at third or first when not on the mound.
“Overall we have an excess of infielders so some guys may play some outfield,” said Chatwood, who also looks to have a solid pitching staff.
Joining Edwards as a starter is Jared Arnold, McWillie and Adam Turgeon while Mountjoy will likely be used as a reliever. Kai Poffenroth, who was the Riggers closer the past several seasons, could also start some this year, according to Chatwood.
“If we need him early in the year, we could ask him to start. Plus he looks after our pitching during the game and makes changes. It’s tough for me to do that if I’m playing.”
Outfielder Austin Moore rounds out the roster so far.
“There’s a couple other people still at college we’re waiting to get home,” added Chatwood.
One of those could be pitcher Luis Gallardo and infielder Cleary Simpson.
“I understand Cleary is looking for an opportunity to play in the States after his college season but if he doesn’t stay there there’s a good chance we get him. We just have to play it by ear.”
The Riggers are also affiliated with the Gulls U19 Prep team.
“Hopefully we get a couple of those kids who will play a lot like Murray did last year.
“The nice thing is they play on weekends and our games are mainly during the week so that would work.”
The Riggers will play an exhibition game against the Gulls Prep team May 22 and against the WCBL squad the following week.
“That week will be busy as we have three other games scheduled, but we’re looking to move a couple of them to later in the season when we’re not as busy,” explained Chatwood.
The Riggers get an early indication how they stack up against the Rockies as they open their season May 9 at the defending SBL champions. Their first home game is May 14 against the Edmonton Cubs.
For years, the Riggers played their home games on Tuesday, but have moved to Wednesday this season.
“We moved because it worked better with Red Deer minor baseball,” said Chatwood. “We worked with them and it was easy for us to move and it helped them out.”
The Riggers will play their home games at Great Chief Park, unless the diamond isn’t ready.
Chatwood said they had talks with the city and “they treated us good. They heard some of our complaints when it came to costs and made it more feasible than years past.
“It’s good for a lot of our fans.”
Chatwood also said this could be his final year as president/head coach.
“I think I’ll pass some of it off so I can just play and enjoy my few years left. We have some good guys who can take it over, so I’m not worried about that.”
Danny Rode is a retired Advocate reporter and member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame who can be reached at danrode@shaw.ca
