The push for the playoffs is on in the West Coast League. This summer baseball league gives fans in the Okanagan a chance to watch some of the top collegiate players in North America. As the college season ends, players look to the West Coast League for somewhere to play during the summer months. Current MLB stars James Paxton and Chris Davis both spend parts of the college careers at Elks Stadium playing for the Kelowna Falcons. Earlier this year the Canadian, Paxton threw a no-hitter against his home-town Toronto Blue Jays, while back in 2015 Chris Davis was the AL Home Run Leader and recently signed a seven-year, $161 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles.
There are only two ways to make the playoffs in the West Coast League. You can either win your division in the first half of the season or win your division in the second half of the season. The Falcons missed out on the first half title, falling only four games back of the Bellingham Bells. Their backs are against the wall now, needing to win their division in the second half if they want to make the playoffs in back-to-back years. However, after a five-game losing streak, the Falcons now sit three-and-a-half games back of the Yakima Valley Pippins for the North Division Lead. With only nine games left in the season the Falcons are going to need all the support they get. Before they end their season at home, they’ll take a road trip to Washington State to face the Bellingham Bells and Walla Walla Sweets, both in three-game series. Vancouver native and 2018 all-star infielder Taylor Wright heads back to Elks Stadium to face the Wenatchee Applesox in the final series of the year August 6, 7, and 8.
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Featured photo: Kelowna Falcons’ Austen Butler (5) and Taylor Wright (19) share a high five after a win at Elks Stadium. (Image Source: kelownafalcons.com, June 22, 2018)
