Even Chance Descalchuk has a tough time describing the freshman season he’s having.
The Regina native was in a league of his own stepping onto the field with Miles Community College, finishing the year with a .452 batting average, 14 home runs, 64 runs batted in and 16 stolen bases in 41 games.
He led the entire MonDak Conference in average and was second in home runs and third in RBI despite playing in 13 fewer games than the league leaders in the two latter categories.
Descalchuk’s performance earned a spot on the All MonDak Conference First Team and is in the running for the circuit’s most valuable player.
As a young man with high expectations of himself, he says he wasn’t surprised to be a key contributor for the Pioneers, but the numbers are a little staggering to look back on.
“Obviously I’m pretty happy with coming in here and putting up those big numbers,” Descalchuk told Saskatchewan Dugout Stories. “I wouldn’t have expected to be where I’m at right now, to be honest, but I’m definitely happy contributing to the squad for sure.”
It will go a long way as the rising star looks towards his sophomore season at Miles and, eventually, a higher level of collegiate baseball in the U.S.
FROM MULTI-SPORT TO MARTIN
Like most kids growing up in Saskatchewan, Descalchuk played every sport he could get his hands on – basketball, football, volleyball and baseball.
After getting placed in t-ball by his mom and grandma at an early age, baseball was the one sport he always gravitated towards.
Descalchuk went all-in and made a choice to attend Martin Academy in Regina to see how far he could go with it, getting daily feedback from coaches Justin Eiswirth, Rob Cherepuschak and Brent Adam.
“They made everything better as I always had great conversations with them,” the third baseman said. “They made high school a better experience for me, for sure, and overall with my entire graduating class. It was pretty awesome.”
After graduating high school, Descalchuk took a gap year to get bigger, stronger and faster, including some time in the California Post Graduate Baseball program in Palm Springs, California.
MASSIVE FIRST IMPRESSION
If Descalchuk was hoping to make an impression in his debut with the Pioneers, he certainly did it and then some.
After not getting into the team’s opening game 7-0 loss to Northeastern Junior College on February 14, the Saskatchewan product was hitting sixth as the designated hitter in the back-half of the doubleheader.
The impact was immediate as he went 4-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in a 13-5 loss.
In his second game as a starter, a 7-6 loss to Western Nebraska Community College, Descalchuk went yard twice, driving in four more runs.
That was enough for head coach Cameron Guevara to pencil his new slugger into the everyday lineup.
“He is, without a doubt, one of the biggest pieces in our lineup,” Guevara told the Miles City Star. “He’s tough, and the whole conference knows when he comes up that you gotta pitch him well or else he’s going to put the ball in play. That’s just kind of what he does.”
Descalchuk credits the work done at Miles during the fall with his coaches, watching video and gaining the confidence in knowing he can play at this level.
“I feel like I’m seeing the ball very well,” said the Regina Athletics alum. “I feel like I know what’s going to be pitched to me and it’s just sitting on my pitch and not really missing it.”
HOMEWARD BOUND
Unfortunately for Descalchuk and the Pioneers, their college season came to an end sooner than they had hoped.
They were beaten by the eventual champion Williston State Tetons 6-2 in the semi-finals of the Region XIII playdowns, with their star infielder contributing with a pair of hits in the loss.
His baseball season isn’t over yet as he will be heading back home to suit up for the Regina Red Sox as they look to defend their Western Canadian Baseball League championship.
“Chance is a very athletic player with a lot of tools,” said head coach Rye Pothakos. “We look forward to him making an impact for our club this season.”
And with a solid core of players set to return to Miles, Descalchuk will head back for his sophomore season.
He’s also been garnering some interest from four-year schools and plans to focus on something in the criminal justice field for his academics.
The 6-foot, 175-pound slugger hopes his season shows kids back home that they, too, can chase their baseball dreams – as long as they make sure to have fun along the way.
“Just bringing a lot of dudes together, becoming closer and being able to go out there and compete with them,” Descalchuk said. “That’s pretty awesome to me.”
The Red Sox open the season on the road in Medicine Hat on May 28 before their home-opener on May 29 against the Moose Jaw Miller Express.
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