Why Kwantlen Baseball?
The Kwantlen Eagles took the field in the fall of 1999 as a founding member of the B.C. College Baseball League, an organization that has evolved into the; “Canadian College Baseball Conference”
As the game of baseball continues to grow in popularity, more and more athletes are looking for competitive opportunities beyond the high school level. There are many fine baseball programs available to the student athlete. However, the vast majority of these programs are in the United States. As scholarship money is limited at all levels of collegiate baseball and the Canadian dollar is weak compared to its US counterpart, the pursuit of the dream to play college baseball has become a difficult process.
The following facts are important to remember when considering the Kwantlen Baseball program:
Economics
It can cost close to $15 000 CA per year to attend a junior college in the United States (see following chart). Staying at home for the first two years of a college baseball career can save as much as $25 000, not including travel costs to and from the college of choice in the U.S. The participation fee that is charged by all of the programs in our league, when added to the cost of tuition in B.C. (and room and board for out-of-town students), allows for a significant financial saving over most U.S. programs.
Education
Credits earned at Kwantlen are fully transferable to all major universities in B.C. This is not always the case when transferring credits from a junior college in the United States. There are many examples of students transferring back from the U.S. losing all of their earned credits. They are then faced with starting over as a first-year student in Canada in order to continue their education. Kwantlen has the highest transfer rate to UBC, SFU, and UVIC among all colleges in B.C. In addition to university transfer programs, Kwantlen offers two-year certificates, bachelors degrees, and post-graduate degrees should a student decide to complete his education, while playing in the Kwantlen Baseball Program.
Exposure
It is no longer necessary to play in the U.S. to be seen by four-year schools and professional scouts. The recent success of many baseball players from B.C. had contributed greatly to the increased coverage that our area receives. In addition to the spring league schedule, the Eagles play a fall exhibition schedule with games in BC and in Washington State. Our September/October schedule comprises 15 – 20 games with another 50 plus spring games during the Championship Season from March through mid May.