Kelowna Falcons

Game On

The Falcons are just days away from opening the 2015 season, when they climb aboard the bus for a three game series in Victoria against the Harbourcats on Friday June 5th.

In doing so the Falcons will open the franchise’s 15th season under the watchful eye of the Nonis Family and unlike any other summer, this one could be the most important.

The West Coast League (WCL) is difficult to gauge coming into each summer.  Different from any other league, the WCL players turnover year to year, in essence giving each of the 12 teams an equal opportunity to win.

For the Falcons, the 2015 season simply needs to be better than the last two.  With just 33 wins in the last two seasons, field manager Billy Clontz and General Manager Mark Nonis have used their many baseball contacts in the west to recruit the best possible players available north and south of the border.

As in every year, a week before the season if filled with optimism and this season is no different.  As players begin to arrive this week in Kelowna they will quickly build a relationship with their new teammates before heading to the Island to open the season.

For these players the season is a long one, with 52 games over the course of two and a half months.  The schedule mimics that of a professional schedule with very few “off days.”  It’s designed to give the players at taste of what it’s like at the next level.

This year, Clontz and Nonis are hoping for a winner and a berth in the post season for the first time since 2010.

So what’s new this year?  Other than new jersey’s the Nonis Family has aligned the ball club with a few unprecedented relationships.  A new partnership with the United Way and the “Falcons Play for United Way” fundraising game will see all ticket proceeds donated on July 8 when the Falcons host the Klamath Falls Gems.  Click HERE to purchase your ticket.

The fourth annual “Fire Fighters Burn Fund” game is set for June 24th.  Again all ticket proceeds will be donated to the Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund.

The club is quickly becoming a team that gives back to the community with significant contributions.  TELUS and Cisco believe in this philosophy as well and are partnering with the Falcons to host the community at the home opener.  On Tuesday June 9 TELUS and Cisco have purchased every seat, including standing room at Elks Stadium and are inviting the public to come open the season with the Falcons by giving fans one of their tickets.

This summer the boys are back and so are the sights, smells and sounds of the ballpark.  The beer is cold, the hotdogs are fresh and the baseball is second to none in the Okanagan and with the roof always open at Elks Stadium, it makes for a perfect night out.

See you at the ballpark for the Falcons 15th anniversary season.

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