Moose Jaw pitcher Reece Helland has signed on to play this fall with the NAIA’s MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers in Olathe, Kansas. 

Helland is in his second year with Monterey Peninsula in the California Community College Athletics Association. 

In five games in a COVID-shortened season last year, Helland allowed five hits, 15 strikeouts, three walks and no runs in 10 2/3 innings of work. 

He felt his experience in California has prepared him for the next step. 

“It’s a big confidence thing for me down here. I never really was confident my freshman year down here when I came down here as a third baseman, but then something changed in my mental game when I started throwing out of the bullpen. 

Helland was sidelined for Monterey Peninsula’s first two games of this season. He hit his head on the ground while doing groundball work in the ballpen and had to undergo concussion protocols.  

He said he is enjoying his time in California and playing in a brand new $2 million ballpark, but he’s looking forward to transferring from junior college to a four-year university in MidAmerica Nazarene. 

“I can't wait to get down there. It's actually a really good program. I went down there for a visit and their coaching staff is really good, their teams really good, their facilities are awesome. I'm excited about it for sure,” Helland said. 

As a bonus, Helland will have three years of eligibility when he arrives in Kansas. 

“I'll have three years actually because my first year down here I redshirted because I tore my labrum and then last year, we got a year of eligibility back because of COVID. And then this year again, we're getting another year back. So, technically I'll have three years after this year,” he said. 

Helland was signed to play with his hometown Moose Jaw Miller Express in the WCBL this season until the Saskatchewan teams pulled out. He’s now looking to play summer ball locally. 

“Hopefully if summer baseball can happen, I'm going to try to play just in the men’s league with my friends from high school.” 

Below is an interview Helland did with 800 CHAB’s Rob Carnie: