The Barons will host the defending champion St. John’s Capitals for the first three games of the provincial Molson senior A baseball best-of-seven final series starting this weekend at Jubilee Field in Corner Brook.
Colbourne didn’t hide the fact there has been a lot of negativity around the Barons over the past few years with a lot of people giving up hope as the Capitals seemed to have their way with their long-time rivals, but he believes every year is different and anything is possible once the first pitch is thrown.
“We’re not cocky going in saying ‘Oh yes we’ve got this one locked down,’ but we’re confident to know we can definitely give them some good games and hold our own for sure,” he said.
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Looking at this year’s roster, Colbourne doesn’t lose sight of the fact the Barons have a lot of younger players who never returned for one reason or another, but there is a seasoned presence with older guys like Darren Colbourne, Mike O’Neill and Perry Alexander in the mix with some young guns like himself, Daniel Humber and pickup Riley King of Gander.
The Capitals, on the other hand, have a lot more young players in the mix this year so the roster has changed a little. Colbourne figures this is something that could work in his team’s favour.
“The Caps might have used their sort of veteran instincts in the last couple of years, but now we kind of have our chance to do that,” he said.
No matter who hits the field for either side, Colbourne said the Capitals will be a tough opponent with a pitching staff boasting two Pasadena natives in Scott Goosney and Greg Barry.
Goosney, who was credited with three wins in last year’s run to the championship, was a member of the Corner Brook Barons — his one time wearing the Barons jersey — when the Barons won in 2013 to end a 14-year winning string for the townies.
“He’s the guy you got to worry about,” he said.
Colbourne, who is still resting his arm from the provincial junior baseball tournament last weekend, is a lefty who is expected to start Game 3 for the Barons on Sunday.
He figures the Barons will have a strong pitching staff with A. J. Whiffen added to the roster, but there will be no Michael Tavenor for the Barons this year and he was the ace of the staff for the past few years.
“He’s a big guy for us and he’s guy who would give us a good game, but we still got other pitchers there who could give us good games,” he said.
Game 1 of the series is slated for Saturday 2 p.m. at Jubilee Field. Game 2 goes Saturday night under the lights at 8 p.m. and Game 3 is scheduled for Sunday 1 p.m. at Jubilee Field.
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