The Santa Clara Baseball League is returning for a 2022 campaign.

The Portage Padres are eager and ready for the new season as they hope to capture their fourth championship since 2016. Infielder Robbie Moar says the team will look a little different than the last iteration.

"I think we're all pretty excited to play again. We have some new faces and we have some old faces that are going to play again. We're looking to get some practice time in before we get started. Hopefully, we can get out there and play some good ball."

The Padres are coming off a tough loss in the finals of the 2020 season as they were defeated in the winner-take-all Game 3 by the Carberry Royals.

Portage is less than two weeks away from their season opener.

"May 25th is our home opener against the Neepawa Cubs, which will be at Republic Park," Moar explains. "It's a short ten-game schedule. We have four at home and six on the road, so there aren't too many dates. We'll go through June and have the playoffs going in July."

Moar has been a member of the Padres for the past few seasons and says the comradery of the squad is what keeps bringing him back.

"Hanging out with all the guys in the dugout is kind of the reason I still play. We're all still pretty competitive so which makes it fun that way," Moar continues. "It's going to be fun to together and play in a competitive baseball league, in front of some good fans."

For anyone on the fence about attending a Padres game this year, Moar gives a few reasons as to why you should do so.

"The Santa Clara, from top to bottom, is a competitive league. Anybody can win it and you never know what you're going to get when you come to the ballpark," says Moar. "It's exciting to know that every game is a must-win with a short schedule like that. We're going to play some good ball, do our best to win them all, but it'll be tough with how deep this league is."

The Padres will play two home games in the month of May, their season opener on the 25th against Neepawa and they will welcome the Plumas Pirates to town on the 31st.