Regina Red Sox head coach Rye Pothakos didn’t hesitate to share why he came back to the Queen City for his 11th season with the team.
"I love the community of Regina, I've been here with the Cyclones. I've been in Saskatchewan since '95," Pothakos said on The SportsCage. "I like Regina, I like our organization, I like what we do for the fans, and I enjoy every minute in the dugout. No other place I'd rather be."
When it comes to coaching, Pothakos explains his enjoyment he derives from helping players with their careers.
"The energy these young guys bring, that's why I like to be around them. I'm 67 years old, I feel like I'm 27," Pothakos chuckled. "I feed off of those guys, with my experience, hopefully we can teach them something. It's a great relationship with the young guys, I really enjoy it."
Last year, Pothakos and the Red Sox won their third WCBL championship by defeating the Sylvan Lake Gulls in a three-game series 2-1. The other two times the Red Sox won the WCBL championship were in 2011 and 2012.
Pothakos shared an update on how many players he expects to return to the team in 2026.
"We'll have about eight to ten, we're waiting on a couple of guys to commit. They'd like to be back in Regina, just taking their time a little bit. They're veteran guys for us, so with respect, we'll give them the time to make that decision," Pothakos said.
"We're going to have a good bunch of returners. We have some great athletes coming in from a bunch of different schools, so very excited about our roster."
In addition to talking about returning players, Pothakos gives his views on his team overall and what stands out for him.
"We got a good defence, the guys don't strike out at the plate, put the ball in play, and we have guys that throw strikes," Pothakos said. "You always have a chance to win when that happens."
The Red Sox season starts in May with two away games, in Medicine Hat on the 28th, then Moose Jaw on the 29th. Reacting to the schedule, Pothakos points out the benefits of starting the season on the road.
"To start on the road, it's nice. They get in the hotel, they're on the bus together, and you get a lot of gelling right away. We're looking forward to that," Pothakos said.
"The first few games are on the road, then we're ready to get after it here at home and make the city proud. We've got a good squad. The city's going to love our guys."
