JULY 3, 2020, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A9
Volcanoes fans. On one
hand, there have been
multiple
reports
saying
continued from Page A10 that the Northwest League
(NWL) will be expanding
obstacles were too much their season, which could
for the MLB to overcome. potentially start in May of
They would have had to 2021.
“We haven’t received of-
send players to 160 different
fi
cial
word yet, but that cer-
cities. With each area having
tainly
seems to be the talk
different health protocols,
around
the water cooler,”
it just wouldn’t have been
feasible,” Walker said. “We’re Walker said.
If that does
extremely dis-
occur,
the
appointed that
Vo
l
c
a
n
o
es
we won’t be “ Maybe I have
could poten-
able to pro-
tially play up
vide Volcanoes too positive
to 70 home
baseball this of an outlook,
games
next
year.”
year — which
While the but I still think
is nearly dou-
organization we could make
ble what they
isn’t
offer-
would
play
lemonade
out
ing refunds to
during a typ-
season ticket of lemons.”
ical summer
holders, Walk-
— and season
er
promises
— Mickey Walker
ticket holders
that everyone
Volcanoes CEO
would be re-
who bought
ceiving an in-
season tickets
credible bang
for 2020 will
for
their
buck.
have automatically have their
However, with the MLB
purchases rolled over into
wanting
to cut ties with 42
the 2021 season — meaning
of
their
current
minor league
that they will have tickets for
organizations,
it’s possible
every Salem-Keizer home
that the Volcanoes could lose
game.
This poses an interesting their affi liation with the San
situation
for
die-hard Francisco Giants this fall and
SKV,
Submitted
Before becoming a coach, Boucher played at Westmont from 2010 to 2012.
“I feel like being a young
head coach helps me under-
stand our guys from a relational
continued from Page A10 standpoint,” Boucher said.
As a coach, Boucher prides
are just as high coming into the himself on working one-on-
2020-21 season as the Warriors one with each of his players, not
return 10 players from last year’s only for the purpose of improv-
squad — most of whom were ing their respective games, but
recruited
by
also to build a
Boucher.
relationship of
“We had an “ Coach Boucher trust.
amazing group
“I really val-
last year and is a big picture
ue doing a lot of
nearly all of thinker who is
individual work
them are com-
with my guys
ing back. I’m not just here to
because
that
really
excit- win games but
was the kind of
ed to have my
attention that I
fi rst year as a also to build on
received a play-
head coach be the tradition set
er,” Boucher
with this group.
said. “When I
They are some before him,”
was with Coach
special individ-
(Abderhalden)
— Dave Odell at Chemeketa,
uals who have
Westmont ath. director
already had a
he was so de-
lot of success in
voted to help-
their careers,”
ing his guys get better. Our
Boucher said.
players are really hungry and
At age 31, Boucher is one of motivated and I believe that be-
the youngest college basketball ing a coach that puts in the time
coaches in the country, which on individual improvement will
he believes is an asset.
allow players to put their trust
BOUCHER,
in our staff.”
At this point, it’s unknown
if COVID-19 will affect the
2020-21 basketball season. If the
season does take place as sched-
uled, Boucher is confi dent in
the direction that his program
is headed.
“Even though we’re living
in wild times right now, I feel
like the future of this team looks
very bright,” Boucher said.
be forced to try and survive
as an independent team.
At this point, it’s hard to
say what independent base-
ball for would look like for
the Volcanoes, but without a
Major League affi liation, it’s
safe to assume that the prod-
uct value would likely be of
less appeal to season ticket
holders — as well as the gen-
eral public.
Walker, however, is ap-
proaching the unknown
with a positive attitude. With
the MLB drastically chang-
ing their draft process — the
draft reduced from 40 rounds
in 2019, to fi ve in 2020, and
will bumped back up to 20
rounds in 2021 — Walker
believes that the Volcanoes
could still get high-quality
prospects, even without an
MLB affi liation.
“I think we could po-
tentially get better players
than we would get from the
Giants, especially since the
draft is so short now. I also
think being an independent
team would allow us more
freedom for community
involvement,” Walker said.
“Maybe I have too positive
of an outlook, but I think we
can still make lemonade out
of lemons.”
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