ESTEVAN - Mason Fichter knows where he'll be playing baseball next season, but first, he has some unfinished business locally.
Fichter, who is graduating from the Estevan Comprehensive School, has committed to play baseball for the Okanagan College Coyotes in Kelowna, B.C., starting next season. The Coyotes play in the Canadian College Baseball Conference, and he'll be playing teams from throughout B.C. and Alberta.
There will also be the opportunity to play teams from the Seattle region, allowing him to have the experience of facing Americans.
Fichter, who will be a pitcher for the Coyotes, earned the opportunity to play for them after some games in B.C. last year.
"I went out there for a week-long tournament with Team Saskatchewan," said Fichter. "We were supposed to play their team [the Coyotes], and it ended up getting rained out. We did some drills out there and the coach saw that and contacted me right away."
The local product was impressed with the Coyotes' coaching, teamwork and facilities.
"It's beautiful out there. Absolutely no complaints," said Fichter.
Fichter will be studying kinesiology at Okanagan College. It's a two-year program, but he can transfer after those two years to the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus. All of his credits would count, and he'd still get to keep playing ball for the Coyotes.
Fichter knows he will need to work on his consistency before the start of his freshman year. Still, he's been pretty good for the Twins this season, as he has led the team in innings pitched and he won his first two decisions of the season.
His focus is on the Twins and helping them succeed over the rest of the season.
Fichter is grateful to Estevan Minor Baseball for helping with his development.
"I've had a lot of great coaches over the years who have pushed me to strive to do my best and constantly improve, and I think that's truly helped me get to where I am today," he said.
