The U18 AAA Tier II Red Deer Porttin Pipeline Braves have had a slow start to the season but will look to turn things around this weekend.
The Braves went 1-3 in their opening weekend series against the Calgary Cubs on the road falling in the season opener on Saturday 22-15 but rebounding later that afternoon with a 9-7 win.
On Sunday the Braves wrapped up the weekend with back-to-back losses 13-3 and 17-5.
They'll continue their season this weekend on the road in Veteran, Alta. when they take on the Neutral Hills Wranglers in a four-game series on Saturday and Sunday.
Dan Tan, who's in his first season as the team's head coach, said they got out hit but showed plenty of promise in their first outing.
"From what I understand this is the best AAA Tier II team that's been put together so far," Tan said. "We've got some leaders and a few talented young guys so I think we'll have an opportunity to play some good baseball."
The Braves have a lot of new faces this season with just five returning players from last year's squad. They have a mix of experience with three third-year players and three first-year players. Everyone else is in the middle group.
"I'm trying to make sure that each individual gets better and I believe that will help the team get better," he said. "I want to play winning baseball. From what I've seen of the league right now we can play winning baseball with the idea that we peak at provincials."
Their goal is to win the provincial championship and from chatting with people who were previously involved with the team and with the recruitment they've done, Tan said they have a great shot at doing that.
"That gives me a lot of excitement and everybody feels a lot of energy to work towards that... We're just steadily working towards that because it's 12 weeks from provincials," he added.
Originally from New Zealand, Tan previously coached baseball there for over a decade before moving to Canada.
Last summer he coached the Edmonton Riverhawks in the West Coast League before moving to Red Deer last September to coach baseball at The Dome in Red Deer.
His job at The Dome has tied in nicely with his coaching role with the Braves as he can work with players through the winter and summer.
"With the rollover in coaches with the Braves Tier II team, I'm trying to install a new culture and more structure in everything we do on and off the field. The boys have bought in pretty well so far. A lot of these guys want to play at the next level and I see that as my ultimate goal that I can help them with."
The Braves' first home games are set for the May 18-19 weekend where they'll take on the Parkland Twins in a four-game series at Great Chief Park.