No matter how the well the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Baseball team does this weekend, their final game will be one filled with emotion.   Head Coach Ray Chadwick will be saying good bye to five of his veterans.
Pitchers Scott Atherton(White Rock BC) and Lee Ingram (Penticton BC) , along with Outfielders Alex Ponich (Penticton BC), Torrie Watters (Langley BC)  and Anthony Cros (Montpellier France) will be playing their final games.

“It will be emotional,”  says Chadwick. “The last games for guys that have spent four years in this program is a definite emotional time for myself as well as the players. When they arrive they are told that they are joining a family not a team. We do a ton of stuff together and become very close.To watch guys grow and mature over the 4 year period and all of a sudden now that its over for them and they're leaving our family it's very emotional.”

“Frank (pitching coach, Ingram) brought me in here,” says Ponich, who was a Canadian College Baseball Conference Allstar the last two years.  “I really didn’t know what to expect.  Its been a great experience for me.”  Ponich is hoping to hear his name called in the Major League Baseball Draft in June.  He says the highlight of his four years with the ‘Pack was last years Championship season.

Fellow Outfielder Anthony Cros admits it’ll be a bittersweet weekend for himself.  “It (his time with TRU) has gone so quick.  I’ve put a little extra effort into practice and games the last few weeks knowing that it’s the last time I’ll be playing with these guys.  I know I’ll look back at this experience as one of the best in my life.”

Cros says his biggest memory  is pretty simple: “ Its been a great group of guys to be around.  We truly are one big family.”  Cros  has one more year of university eligibility.  He is contemplating going to the U.S. if he isn’t drafted.

“Our 4th year guys have all developed as good college baseball players and great young men,” says Chadwick. “  Anthony and Alex have matured and grown into leaders and will possibly get a chance to play at a higher level. Their hard work and dedication to the game and the TRU baseball program is evident in the numbers they have both put up this season.”

Both Ponich and Cros have nothing but respect and admiration for their head coach.  “He’s been an inspiration to me.” Says Cros. “What he’s built here is very special. “ adds Ponich.

Chadwick , like all coaches, is always looking  for his program to evolve. And while it will: he’s very sentimental about the 2008 graduating class: the second for him since he started the program at Thompson Rivers  “None of the guys that have spent 4 years here are replaceable. They've all been unique in their own way. We try and bring in guys that can step in or have the potential to grow and keep our winning tradition going.”

Chadwick and his five graduates hope that their last game in a WolfPack uniform will feature a championship celebration.  Says Cros “It’s the best way to go out”.