Jacob Volkers of Comox, a pitcher on the Parksville Royals, has been selected to play in the B.C. Premier Baseball League all-star game on Saturday, June 15 in Langley.
The 18-year-old left-hander has been the Royals most consistent starter, and one of the team’s leading hitters this season, according to the Royals website. With an ERA of 3.21, Volkers threw a complete game, seven-inning no-hitter against the Okanagan Athletics on May 5. He had been hitting .357 with an on-base percentage of .455.
Though the Royals had been struggling, the team went 3-1 last weekend at the Langley Boys Invitational Tournament.
“We just lost 6-5 against Coquitlam, which is the top team in the league,” Volkers said. “Hoping that’s a turning point in the season.”
After graduating from high school, Volkers will play this fall for the Miles Community College baseball team in Montana. Last season, the team nearly reached the College World Series.
“They made it to the qualifying games against a team from Nebraska, and just missed it. They’re a good team, the 18th-ranked junior college Division 2 in the States. I’m looking forward to playing with them.”
In Montana, he will join former Royals teammate Kiran Carcary – who spoke to the coaching staff about Volkers.
Aside from baseball, Volkers was a key member of the senior boys basketball team at Mark Isfeld Secondary which qualified for this year’s provincial tournament. He was named Isfeld’s senior male athlete of the year, and earned a Big Bear Award. The latter is given to those who have been a top three player on more than one school sports team. He is also on the principal’s honour roll.
