Tonight, June 4, will be the home opener for the Weyburn Senior Beavers, starting at 7 p.m. at Tom Laing Park. After taking a 7-3 loss in Regina on Monday night in the season opener, the Beavers are looking for a win for their home opener against Medicine Hat.

Head coach Rocco Mossuto is hoping for a winning start to the season. "The difficulty will be getting all these guys used to playing with each other, especially with players coming from different places. Once the games start, we will be able to come together as a team and improve on last year's record."

"We have all played baseball before, so we know how to respect the other team," said Mossuto. "Once you think the other team is weak, you start to play down to their level, and if you think the other team is strong, you start to play scared. You can't do that, it is important to treat each game with the same mentality that we will win."

The season has already started for the Senior Beavers, as they played in Regina on Monday night, taking a 7-3 loss. The first three innings had been a no-hitter, with Regina forcing a lead in the fourth inning with two runs. The Beavers were able to hold on to that 2-0 score until the seventh inning, when Regina earned five runs to add to their lead. It all came down to the top of the ninth for the Beavers, when they were able to score some runs. Despite earning three runs in one inning, it was not enough to take the lead from Regina. Pitcher Chris Mills suffered the loss on the mound.

Now the players are looking forward to their home opener. "We are looking for a win, making it a good game for the fans," said left-handed pitcher Anthony (Tony) Davey. Davey is a new player to the team, as he was imported from Cleveland, Ohio, where he brings experience with three different college level teams, with the last two of those being wood-bat leagues.

"We are looking to give the Beavers a good record this season," said Davey. "We have the guys that can do it too, and have been conditioning, strengthening and working out together as a team since we arrived in Weyburn. Our pitchers have been hitting the bullpens, the outfielders and infielders are out practicing catches and we have all been in the batting cages."

Styron Barfield is another new addition to the team, imported from Williamston, North Carolina, and is a right-handed pitcher. With two years of experience in Division II baseball, Barfield is looking forward to the upcoming season. "I would really like for us to win the home opener, then as the season progresses to show improvement in our record over last year. I am really hoping we can win every game against the team that won last year's championship title."

Returning player, and Weyburn local, Mat Larson is also feeling positive about the upcoming season. Larson is a right-handed pitcher and infielder. "It will be interesting, as we have never faced an Alberta team this early in the season before and that will mean several nights playing in a row."

"But I am looking forward to proving ourselves out on the field; we have always been the team that has struggled and this year I feel it will be different," said Larson. "I have heard a lot of good things about our new players, plus we have the experience of our returning players, and it looks like we have the talent to make this a winning season for our fans."

Another local player who is returning to the team is KC McCormick, who plays infield. "I am looking forward to getting out on a nice winning streak and bring a good name for the team. It would be wonderful to see a lot of fans in the seats, as their support means a lot to us."

"We have been learning as a team in our last few practices, which will continue to progress as we enter into our first few games," said McCormick. "We have a lot of good players this year, so I predict that it will be a pretty good year for the team."

After facing Medicine Hat in the home opener tonight, June 4, the Beavers will host the Alberta team two more times at Tom Laing Park, on Thursday, June 5 and Friday, June 6 at 7 p.m. Then on Sunday, June 8, they will be in Melville to play the Millionaires, and then travel to Swift Current on Monday, June 9 to play the Indians.