The Kamloops College Prep U-18 Riverdogs hope to finish what they started this weekend at Provincials in Nanaimo.

They’re going into the tournament as the top seeded team after going 23-10 during the regular season.

“With the group of guys we have including 12 returning players from last year I think we knew early we had a good chance to do this kind of stuff,” Head Coach Liam Rihela said following practice on a 39 C evening this week at McArthur Island.

“We want to pitch aggressively and take care on defense. We knew we were going to swing, and swing and swing…most runs scored in the league and a lot of other hitting categories that we led.”

Pitcher Tate Spence from Salmon Arm will likely get the start in the first game against North Fraser on Friday evening.

“We have a good sense of confidence. We definitely have a target on our backs. We’re the team to knock out, for sure,” Spence said. “I think we all know that.”

Spence says there is one team the Riverdogs will have to overcome if they are to become provincial champions.

“Cloverdale has had our number. We went 0-3 against them in the regular season,” he said. “For us, they are the team we need to beat.”

Meanwhile Catcher and third basemen Grady Johnson has a sense of what is at stake for the four seniors on the Riverdogs.

“Lots of these guys the past couple years haven’t had the success at provincials. It would be pretty special for the guys that are leaving for us to do well,” Johnson said.

The Riverdogs open U-18 Provincials with back-to-back games Friday against North Fraser at 12 noon followed by Ridge Meadows at 3 p.m..

They’ll conclude the round robin stage with a game against Vancouver Island at 12 noon on Saturday.

For more include the schedule and statistics, go here.