If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what song would you choose?
The song that got me into a lot of music was “Baby Come Back” by Player. It’s an older song; me and my buddies used to listen to it all the time in high school, and it was one of the songs your parents [would] play. If we’re at the lake that’s what you’d hear all the time.
What’s your pre-game routine?
Just kind of talking with the guys … we only play like seven other teams, so talking with them about the pitcher we’re about to face, if we’ve faced them before at all … a bit of banter for a good warm up … batting practice before the game … whatever gets me warmed up and moving right.
How did you first get into baseball?
I’ve been playing for a long time, longer than I can remember … I was playing basketball full time up until about Grade 11, I’d say, and then I got hurt — and I was like basketball is not for me. I wasn’t tall enough and I was better at baseball anyways, so I switched over to that. Out of high school I went down to the states to play [baseball] for Arizona Western. I came back in the spring and started to play for UFV and I’ve been here since winter 2024.
What do you love most about baseball?
It’s a love-hate relationship but … as corny as it sounds, the people I’ve met. A lot of my good friends are from baseball … and I have a ton of good memories playing baseball … I’m also a really competitive person, so I like to win and I like to beat other people that I’m playing against.
Would you rather fast forward time or reverse time?
Reverse time … It seemed really fun to grow up in the ‘80s and ‘70s when you didn’t really have anybody watching you. You [could] just go out whenever and technology wasn’t around.
What have you learned here at UFV?
Coming back to UFV, I wasn’t really developed from [the] mental standpoint of the game … Coach [Riley] Jepson, Kyle [Lotzkar], Junior [Deleon], and our trainer Hayes [Parashyn] really allowed me to express myself on the field and learn from my mistakes. Part of our success last year from winning [the championship] was being able to go to the field and having a free mind, and being able to play the game without thinking about anything else that’s going on in your life and having fun.
Do cats make better companions than dogs?
Absolutely not.
What have you learned from last season that you are taking into this current season?
How to hit an off speed pitch … I’ve always been a dominant fastball pitch hitter, so coming back from the States, Riley [Jepson] opened me up to hitting more off speed … A lot of the time that’s what I get as a left-handed hitter, I get a lot of change up. So being able to recognize the spin and the off speed has really helped my game.
Who do you look up to the most?
Probably my dad. He’s been a big role model in my life, setting an example … being a quality human no matter what. He’s been a huge part of my life, not just in general, but baseball wise as well … If it wasn’t for him and all the extra work we put in, I don’t think I’d be the same baseball player I am today… I want the relationship that I had with my father with my [future] kids as well.
What does it mean to be a Cascade?
Representing a quality program. Our coaches … they all emphasize representing the program as if you’re always wearing a jersey. So we always, no matter where we are, like to represent ourselves in the highest manner we can, and that goes on the school’s name as well.
Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.
