Canadian hurler making big impact on mound for Raiders

It appears that “Cole” wasn’t fitting enough — but in hindsight, it appears the parents of Kole Turner may have gotten it right from the start.

The sophomore pitcher for the Three Rivers College baseball team has no problem producing K’s with a live arm from the mound and has become one of the more important hurlers out of the bullpen for the Raiders.

Turner has already struck out five batters in three innings (an average of 15 strikeouts per nine) and has allowed one earned run in the young season.

Last spring, upon arriving from British Columbia in Canada, Turner appeared in three games on the mound and didn’t allow a run in 2 1/3 innings, but of course, he was pretty busy playing shortstop.

Yep, Turner is multi-dimensional, to say the least.

“He played shortstop for us all year, last year, and did a good job and now we have been able to make him our closer,” TRC coach Tyler Smith said. “He has one of our best arms, can throw 93-95 mph and has a chance to do some interesting things in baseball.

“Having a Canadian kid in Poplar Bluff is always interesting and he is really good and has made it worthwhile.”

Smith recruited Turner to pitch, but discovered against his original instincts that the Canadian can wield a mighty game in between second and third bases.

“He came in as but weren’t able to use him (as a pitcher),” Smith said. “Having on the mound will really help this year. He has done really well. We got to get him out there a little bit more.”

Turner admits that the move to Poplar Bluff was a big change, but now he considers it another home.

“It was a bit of a drastic change — there are things that are different — and the first two weeks were tough, but other than that, once you get adapted and knowing the guys a little better, it was easy,” Turner said. “I got settled in and it sucks being about a 48-hour drive from your family, but after those first two weeks, I got adjusted. I go home and I feel I have to go back (Poplar Bluff). It’s weird.

“(I enjoys) historical Poplar Bluff. It’s pretty cool with the brick roads. We don’t get that at home with all the tall skyscrapers and stuff. The sunsets here are beautiful and you can see all around you where instead (in Vancouver) you have a tall building all around you.”

Turner says his experience at Three Rivers rates so far as a “nine out of 10,” because he has been able to forge a path.

“I have been able to accomplish some things that I’ve wanted since I was a kid and I have always wanted to play college baseball,” Turner said. “Coming here is a big step in that direction for me. I want to chase my dreams — maybe play Division I baseball, get drafted (by Major League Baseball), and get signed to keep playing the game as long as I can.

“I played in the Little League World Series when I was 12 and at that point in my life I would quit playing football and hockey and from that day forward I was striving to play college baseball. Finally accomplishing it was huge for me.”

Turner said he has learned to trust his ability and not be afraid.

“I want to establish my fastball early and work my other two pitches in late,” Turner said. “So far, so good. If I could add a few miles an hour to my fastball that would be huge and I would like to be able to throw all my pitches for strikes. I get a little frantic with my off-speed pitches at times.”

Turner discovered the sport through his dad, who had played the sport with some former professionals.

“I was four years old when I started playing,” he said. “My dad always pushed me to do extra stuff — hitting, throwing, running, lifting. Sometimes I think he’s living through me and that’s pretty cool.

“Playing on ESPN as a 12-year-old and walking around and people giving you balls to sign, feeling like you were in the major leagues, was so surreal. I just had to chase that feeling again.”

Turner is working on general studies currently at Three Rivers and expects to pursue a degree in business with a major in marketing wherever his arm takes him.