A mild winter allowed the Vernon ANAF Diamondbacks to begin outdoor training in late February.  They start stroking dingers and turning doubleplays for real Saturday when they face the expansion Okanagan Major Baseball League Penticton Pirates for a pair at Carmi Field.  The Pirates enter the league, 20 years after the last time they had senior men's baseball in the Peach City.  "The Diamondbacks will be pitching by committee on Saturday, as work commitments will limit the options," said Kyle Anderson. "John McInnis is expected to get the ball in Game 1." 

On Sunday, the D-Backs host the Pirates for a doubleheader, starting at 1 p.m. at Marshall Field.  "Last year's team Cy Young, Peter Ortman, will get the start in the home opener," added Anderson.

The Diamondbacks encourage the public to check out the ANAF D-Backs. Admission is free and there will be a concession. Joining Vernon and Penticton in the OMBL are the Kelowna Jays and Kamloops Sun Devils, which are both extensions of the college baseball programs at Okanagan College and Thompson Rivers University respectively.

The Trail Orioles will play an exhibition schedule against the OMBL teams. Teams will play a 24-game league schedule with playoffs scheduled for July 23-25, while the provincials are July 30-Aug, 2 in Trail.