Canucks U18AA Win Both Games In Bubble Gum Double Header
Spencer Craig records five RBIs and a standup triple to help power the win
It was a ‘pitching duel’ of another sort.
The only question to be answered was whose bats in the end would win the battle.
At the end of it all the Moose Jaw Canucks U18AAs literally walked away with a victory over the visiting Muenster (East Central) Red Sox 24 - 20. The three hour Saturday afternoon marathon game ws the second game of a double header.
“There was a lot of walks,” Zachary Klyne Canucks head coach said about the game.
A pitch turns out to be a swing and a miss for a Canucks batter - MJ Independent photo
Despite the often poor pitching, from both teams, Klyne was happy with the results.
“It was nice. When our bats are swinging they are pretty hot. When everybody I going everyone is going. We approached it (differently) today. We went up there waiting for strikes and we got a lot of walks,’ he said.
The first inning was scoreless for both teams.
The Red Sox would score five runs in the top of the second inning only to see the seemingly insurmountable lead wiped out by the Canucks in the bottom half of the inning.
The Canucks would load the bases and score three runs on pass balls by the Red Sox’s catcher.
Hudson Talon would get on base and in the ensuing play take off and slide in safe stealing second base.
The inning would end a 5 - 5 tie.
A nice mild sunny day brought out at least one umbrella to provide some shade to a fan - MJ Independent photo
The third inning saw the Canucks pitching collapse as the Red Sox continued to work over first the starting pitcher and then the reliever.
The Red Sox would score four runs in the inning to lead the game 9 - 5.
In the Canucks half of the inning they threatened the Red Sox by loading the bases.
Unfortunately for the Canucks a timely strikeout got Muenster out of a jam.
The score after three innings was 9 - 5 for the Red Sox.
A single run by the Red Sox in the fourth inning left them with what seemed an insurmountable 10 - 5 lead but the Canucks would respond.
The fourth inning would see the Canucks explode offensively scoring nine runs.
Muenster Red Sox’s Colton Pries slides safely into home on a missed ball as Canucks pitcher Russ MacDonald does not get the ball in time to make the tag - MJ Independent photo
Jesse Lesperance would once again show his sprinting abilities in the fourth inning taking off to second base beating the throw.
The bases would load up for the Canucks as power hitter Tryton Legare would draw a walk with a 3 and 2 count.
Lesperance would return in the inning to add further pain to the Red Sox. He would hit a two run double resulting in 2 RBIs.
With the bases loaded Legare would take off after a throwing error to pick him off on third base scoring a run.
A fielding error in left field by what could be described as easy pop up by Spencer Craig scored another two runs.
The score was 14 - 10 after four innings.
Jesse Lesperance slides in for another stolen base - MJ Independent photo
The fifth inning saw the Red Sox fight back scoring a pair of runs.
In the bottom of the fifth inning the Canucks would explode once again scoring seven runs.
Lesperance would draw a walk which loaded the bases.
A chopping hit by Riley Cushway would evade Muenster’s pitcher by bouncing over his head allowing Moose Jaw to score a run.
Spencer Craig would draw a walk with the bases loaded resulting in another Moose Jaw run.
The next batter Ryder Hicks would be hit resulting in a run because the bases were loaded. The score was now 18 - 12 for Moose Jaw.
The fifth inning would end 21 - 12 for the Canucks one run shy of the ten run mercy rule.
With the Red Sox seemingly beaten the tallied up a big sixth inning scoring five runs.
Moose Jaw pitcher Russ MacDonald failed to cover home plate properly on a missed ball and the Red Sox runner easily trotted home to score his team’s fifth and final run of the inning.
The Canucks would respond.
In the bottom of the sixth inning the Canucks connected adding three runs making the score 24 - 18 in the Canucks favour.
At their last bat the Red Sox started to rally but only managed to score three runs.
The Canucks had 15 hits in the victory.
The Red Sox also ended up with 15 hits.
The final score was Canucks 24 and the Red Sox 20.
Ryan Gibbs blows a bubble with his twenty stick mouthful of bubble gum at the end of the fifth inning - MJ Independent photo
“The boys took the plate approach talk to heart and there was a lot of walks today that helps,” Klyne said.
Asked about the second inning four run rally literally coming off of the back of Riley Cushway Klyne said you take the boosts no matter how you get them.
While at bat Cushway was hit in the back by a wild pitch getting on base.
“You never know what can start it off. Sometimes it’s a big hit. Sometimes it’s your best player getting hit in the back. That really helped,” he said.
Asked about the ‘pitching duel’ that quickly developed Klyne attributed it to the Red Sox being a good team.
“They went through the line up once and did a good job. Once they figured it out they were hitting the ball well.”
Moose Jaw would end up utilizing four pitchers as Muenster capitalized on the the Canucks spear chuckers.
“It was kind an off day for the pitchers. Both sides. They had 15 hits too and credit to them. Our pitchers were doing a job throwing strikes there wasn’t many errors especially compared to last game. It was nice today.”
The Canucks had five errors while the game earlier this week against Regina saw the Canucks record 10 errors in the field.
There were still some minor routine plays missed such as a run scored when the Canucks pitcher failed to cover home plate.
Klyne said in the post game interview the marathon three hour length of the game made it difficult to keep the team focused at times especially the hour of the fifth and sixth innings.
A couple members of the team were literally blowing bubbles as a distraction.
The ball is thrown too high for Muenster’s third baseman to corral as the Canucks pick up another stolen base - MJ Independent photo
Despite needing to score 36 runs in order to sweep the double header Klyne said he’s still happy with the result.
“We’ll take any win we can right now. The start of the season has been rough…the games we should win we have started to win.”
The Canucks are battling to earn a playoff berth and have a 6 - 10 record.
The team right now is looking at the rematch this Thursday in Regina versus the Buffaloes.
“We should have picked that one up. We want to get those guys.”
Klyne said he wanted to give a special shoutout to Spencer Craig for his batting performance with five RBIs and a standup triple.
The other shoutout he had was for the “whole team taking a lot of walks and having a smart approach finally.”
Hudson Talon beats the throw to steal second base - MJ Independent photo
GAME ONE
Moose Jaw 12 - Muenster (East Central) 11
Earlier in the morning the Canucks defeated the Red Sox 12 - 11 in the first game of the double header.
The game would see the Canucks almost lose as they gave up a four run lead to Muenster.
“The first game was good. We won it 12 to 11 on a walk off. Again we kind of threw the ball around in the later innings. We had a four run lead going into the last inning and we gave up four runs. It took us that last inning to walk it off. We were the home team today so our bats were hitting today. We scored a lot of runs,” Klyne said about the game.
Ryder Hicks had a big day at driving in four runs and going 2 - 3 in game one.
With Muenster in the lead the Canucks would score six runs at the bottom of the third inning making the score 7 - 4 for Moose Jaw.
Muenster would battle back with six runs of their own on the top of the seventh inning.
With the game tied at the bottom of the seventh Hicks would single breaking the tie and driving in the winning run.
The next and final regular season game for the Canucks is June 26th at 6 pm versus Assiniboia at Ross Wells Park.