First baseman Riley Hole is one of the Virden Oilers’ important but unsung players on and off the field.
“His biggest strength is his defence and ability to pick bad throws out of the dirt,” Oilers player/coach Des Koop said.
“His attitude is second to none and he always has a positive attitude on the bench whether we are losing or winning. He also helps the team by volunteering his time setting up signs or helping with diamond maintenance.”
Hole is in his second season with the Oilers, who went 2-1 last week in the South West Baseball League. He grew up in Virden and played some senior ball in Edmonton before moving back home.
Ton of fun
“The best part about playing for the Oilers is the group of guys you get to play with,” Hole said. “It’s a great team to be a part of. We have a ton of fun playing the game of baseball and at the same time we field a competitive team year after year.
“The support from the community is huge. Those signs in the outfield and the fans that come out to watch our games are fantastic. There is not another team the boasts crowds like we do; and not only do they come to home games but we have a number of community members that travel to games out of town.”
Hole is not afraid to put in time to help the senior team.
“He is at every practice and early to every game to prep the diamond, help with outfield signs and putting up the cage,” Koop said. “He is a guy you depend on to be there to help every time.”
