When you can't play the game you love go back to where the passion blossomed.
When you can't play the game you love go back to where the passion blossomed.
With fond memories and experiences coming up to the Western Major Baseball League reigning Rookie of the Year Daniel Fredrickson simply couldn't say no to the opportunity to once again wear the red-and-white of the Okotoks Dawgs.
“Really, it's about getting at-bats for me,” Fredrickson said. “After being ineligible because of a transfer I needed to go to a place where I was liked and I was comfortable.
“For the long run it was about being in a place where I could love baseball again and get back into it then progressing from there and getting better.”
No better place than a home away from his Woodinville, Washington home to get reacquainted with the diamond.
Fredrickson credited his rookie season in Okotoks and the unwavering support from the community of baseball fans for re-igniting his passion for the sport after seeing limited playing time with Washington State.
“It was really relevant after a game where we got killed and I would be thinking let's just get out of here,” he said. “Here in Okotoks everyone stayed to the end, was on the field with you and trying to talk to you. That's what it's all about.
“While winning is the most fun, it's not always about that. It's about doing what you do and giving it your all for your teammates, for your family and for your organization.”
He once again steps to the plate for Okotoks without recent game-action in his back pocket.
The 5-foot-10 outfielder transferred in-state from the Washington State Cougars to the Gonzaga Bulldogs forcing him to sit out the 2015-16 season.
While training and practicing with the team he got a chance to work on the fundamentals of his swing in what was a terrific season for the Zags who won 19 games and advanced to the conference championships last weekend in Stockton, California.
“It was just about getting the team better and they've had a great season so it has been well worth it,” he said. “I was in the weight-room, training a lot, I was doing a lot in the cages to work on the mechanics that you can't normally work on in the season.
“It was a nice break to be able to fix any cracks in my swing.”
Mechanics didn't seem to be an issue last summer for the freshman sensation.
Fredrickson proved a tough nut to crack at the plate posting a team high batting average of .366 while knocking in 20 RBI and adding 10 stolen bases en route to WMBL First Team All-Star honours.
“Baseball is all mentality, how you view the game and how you approach what you do,” he said. “Last year it was about starting out with solid contact then being able to work through the ball and being able to see the pitches well.
“And having that confidence that you're able to hit whatever he can throw at you.”
He will take the same confident, not cocky approach to the plate in year two.
Sure, the challenge of establishing himself as someone who can excel in the summer collegiate loop isn't there anymore. At the same time there's no need to fix what isn't broken.
“Baseball is baseball and you've got to do whatever you can to be successful and for me it's going to be the same thing,” he said. “It really doesn't change much from season to season.”
Though there will some familiar faces in Fredrickson, True Grit award winner Kellen Marruffo and fan-favourite Brendan Rose, it was an off-season of change for Okotoks.
Oregon State's Tyler Graham takes over as first-year head coach and a fresh crop of players get their introduction to the friendly confines of Seaman Stadium for the home opener on June 3.
Fredrickson has one piece of advice for the newcomers.
“The main thing to do in summer ball is just to relax,” he said. “In college it's very high-tempo, all these pressure situations and you get to summer ball and you're kind of on edge still.
“People here are here for you and this is a chance to get better.”
The Dawgs are hoping for 5,000 fans to attend their home opener against the expansion Fort McMurray Giants.
Okotoks opens its season on the road on June 1 versus the Medicine Hat Mavericks. For more information on the team go to dawgsbaseball.ca
