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Kelowna Falcons trio to WCL all-star game

Kelowna’s Taylor Wright, Matt Bottcher and Cal Hehnke will play next week in WCL showcase
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North Vancouver’s Taylor Wright is one of three Kelowna Falcons selected to play in the WCL all-star game. -Image credit: Ken Reid/Greystoke Photography

A solid first half of the 2017 season has earned a trio of Kelowna Falcons a trip to next week’s West Coast League All-Star Game in Yakima, Wash.

Taylor Wright, Matt Bottcher and Cal Hehnke will suit up for the North Division squad on Tuesday, July 18.

Wright, a North Vancouver native, has been one of the Falcons’ more consistent hitters and, as of Tuesday this week, led the team in hits (38), homeruns (8), RBIs (30) and walks (29).

In the field, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound shortstop directs the defence and has tallied 65 assists and 29 putouts.

Wright is an incoming freshman to the University of Maryland of the Big 10 Conference and is expected to assume a starting role.

In 18 games since joining the team, Bottcher topped the Falcons in batting average at .386 with 27 hits, scored 12 runs, and collected four doubles, a homer and 15 RBIs.

The second baseman from Romeoville, Illinois, has played 99.2 innings, with 47 assists and 17 putouts.

Hehnke, a pitcher from Grand Island, Nebraska, has had an outstanding summer with a perfect 4-0 record. As of Monday, his ERA sat at 2.63 in eight appearances and 41 innings. His strikeouts to walks ratio is notable, fanning 41 batters and allowing just 16 free passes.

All three Falcons will travel to Yakima following their home series against the Wentachee Applesox, July 14 to 16 at Elks Stadium.

By winning the North Division’s first half title, the Falcons have already qualified for the WCL playoffs in early August.