Kelowna Falcons

Thunder & Lightning

The Falcons look to their home province and the University of British Columbia to bring three players from the Thunderbirds in for the 2019 season including a pair of returnees in pitcher Niall Windeler (pictured) and outfielder Austen Butler along with a fresh face to the Okanagan in the way of outfielder Jayden Knight.

Windeler returns to the Falcons after completing his 3rd season at UBC with the Thunderbirds for his second summer in Kelowna. The 6’4”, 205-pound left hander toed the mound for the Falcons during the 2017 season, pitching to a 4-1 record along with a 2.74 earned run average in 39.1 innings pitched through 6 games, including going 7 innings in five of his six starts that summer. The Toronto, Ontario native had an outstanding season with the T-Birds, compiling an 8-8 record with a 3.72 ERA in 94.1 innings pitched with his biggest game coming against Oregon Tech where he threw a no-hitter, striking out 10 in the process.

Austen Butler makes his way back to Kelowna after being with the team through their North Division championship last season. The Port Coquitlam, BC product stepped in for 129 at-bats with UBC this spring, collecting 31 hits and posting a .240 average during that span of 36 games started. Butler hit a home run with 15 RBI’s and 5 doubles while drawing 20 walks through the season. The 5’11”, 185-pound outfielder hit .250 during his 37 games for the Falcons last season with 21 hits in 84 at-bats, slapping 7 doubles and 6 RBI’s on the campaign.

The fresh face coming to Kelowna this summer is fellow UBC outfielder Jayden Knight, who hails from Langley, BC. Knight only got into six at-bats through the season in October and was held hitless but comes with a big pedigree, having played on the Junior National Team for Baseball Canada in the Dominican Summer League in 2018 held in Punta Cana. The 6’1”, 200-pound right handed batter just finished up his freshman year at university while studying kinesiology.

The Falcons will open their 2019 season on the road against the Bellingham Bells beginning on Tuesday, June 4th before coming back to Kelowna for their home-opening series to host the newest team in the WCL, the Ridgefield Raptors for a three-game series beginning on Friday, June 7th. Tickets are available for purchase now and can be bought by calling (250) 763-4100.

Photo courtesy of Greystoke Photography

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