Poniewozik pitches way onto Edmonton Prospects

Spruce Grove, Alta., native and former Parkland Minor Ball Association player Jesse Poniewozik signed with the Edmonton Prospects of the Western Major Baseball League on Dec. 25. Photo Credit: Spruce Grove Examiner

*This article was originally published in the Spruce Grove Examiner on January 5. You can read the original article here.

By Josh Thomas

Spruce Grove Examiner

Surreal is the only way to describe the newest Edmonton Prospects pitcher’s 2018.

Spruce Grove born, and former Parkland Minor Ball Association player Jesse Poniewozik signed with the Edmonton Prospects of the Western Major Baseball League on Dec. 25

“My coach in Kelowna told me he was talking to head coach Jordan Blundell over there. At first I thought, that’s pretty cool, they’re going to talk and that’s that. Once Jordan got into contact with me it kind of became real,” said Poniewozik.

This comes after the right-handed pitcher was able to help the Okanagan College Coyotes win the Canadian College Baseball Conference national Championship.

In his sophomore season with the Coyotes, Poniewozik graduated from a redshirt into a relief pitcher, and was even able to earn a start and a subsequent win during the team’s national title run.

“It was a 10:30 p.m. game, so we were pretty tired, but we ended up winning that game 14-3 and performing better than we ever had. I pitched all five innings and that was cool to say the least,” said Poniewozik.

He pitched 16 2/3 innings over nine games in the regular season, posting a 1.62 ERA.

“I pitched quite a bit in relief and I had a lot of success, for which I think I have to give the credit to my coaches and my family for developing my skills and my mentality. It’s been a very successful past couple of years for me and I’m looking forward to what the future brings,” said Poniewozik.

For the time being, the 6-foot-1 pitcher has his sights set on repeating as CCBC champions with the Coyotes. Their season kicks off in February and runs until May. They will take on a handful of American colleges before beginning the regular season with their home opening series against the University of Alberta on March 22-23.

When the title defence is done, the pitcher will shift his focus to helping the Prospects on the mound.

“It’s definitely a bit surreal. I’ve looked up to the Prospects … and I never really thought I would play with them. Growing up in a small town and playing high school ball is definitely a different atmosphere, taking this next step is amazing for myself and my family,” said Poniewozik.