By John DeCoste
The Kentville Wildcats have announced a big addition to their team for the upcoming season.
Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League veteran Billy MacKenzie will join the team after spending much of the past decade with the Truro Bearcats.
During his time in the Hubtown, the outfielder/first baseman forged a reputation as one of the best and most consistent all-round power hitters in the league.
Wildcats head coach Ian Mosher said MacKenzie “is expected to make an immediate impact hitting in the middle of the lineup. He is capable of playing first base and right field.”
A two-time all-star outfielder, MacKenzie, who will turn 34 in August, was the runner-up for the league batting title in 2008 with a .420 average and again in 2011 with a .408 mark. He finished in the league’s top-10 in hitting for eight straight years.
He was also twice runner-up in home runs (behind Dartmouth’s Darren Doucette) with a total of nine homers each year (2002 and 2003).
A Dartmouth native, MacKenzie competed for Nova Scotia at the 1997 Canada Games in volleyball. Combining baseball, volleyball and beach volleyball, he has played on 30 national championship teams.
The 6’1”, 225-pounder has competed at senior baseball nationals twice, with Truro in 2002 and with Dartmouth in 2008.
