Canucks U18A Come Out Flat In Double Header Games
It was a tough Sunday for the Moose Jaw Canucks U18A team as they dropped both games in a double header to two different Weyburn teams - the Angels and the Dodgers.
In game one of the double header the Canucks lost to the Weyburn Angels in a five inning mercy decision 14 - 3.
In game of the double header versus the Weyburn Dodgers the Canucks lost 14 - 8.
Please Note - All photos are from the second 3 pm game versus the Weyburn Dodgers.
ATTEMPT TO STEAL HOME - After sliding into home plate on an attempted first inning steal Canucks’ Brayden Wood looks to the umpire for the call. Wood would be called out on the play - MJ Independent photo
“That was an ugly one,” Canucks’ head coach Ethan La Rose said about the game against the Weyburn Angels.
“I wasn’t too pleased about that one necessarily. But I try to (cheer them on). You know kids feed off of the coach’s energy so I try to maintain my composure and keep the attitudes high,” he said.
“But you know they came out flat in both games today. Both games they just came out flat with the wrong attitude,” he said, adding “we came out with the wrong attitude it’s Sunday morning baseball.”
He attributed the team’s attitude at the start of both games to “Sunday morning baseball and not everyone wants to come out on a Sunday morning.”
“They want that last day of rest but we have got to be prepared for games any day and any time.”
The post game chat with the players stressed on the team’s seeming inability to generate some enthusiasm.
“I think that chat we had at the end of the game will get them fired up and get them focused.”
ADVANCE THE RUNNER - Canucks’ Kaden Gerbrtandt bunts the ball in order to advance the runner. Although the ball was bunted a little bit too far the runner was able to advance from first to second. With Weyburn’s pitcher bobbling the ball Gerbrandt made it safely to first base - MJ Independent photo
The first inning saw the Dodgers pick up a run.
The Canucks in their half of the inning had La Rose, who is also the team’s third base coach, send Brayden Wood from third base on an attempt to steal home base.
Wood would slide but was called out by the home plate umpire on the play.
Asked about the aggressive nature of the Canucks base running - especially the attempt to steal home in the first inning - La Rose said it was part of the psychological aspect of the game.
“We like putting that pressure on early because if you can kind of take away their hope of winning in the game early and keep that pressure from start to finish it’s really hard for an opposing team to get their momentum back if you just keep that pressure constant.”
ATTEMPTED DOUBLE PLAY - After tagging out the led runner at second base Canucks’ second baseman Dylan Meyers throws the ball to first base in an attempted double play. The attempt was unsuccessful - MJ Independent photo
The Canucks aggressive base running continued throughout the game with multiple safely stolen.
“I’m always impressed with our base running all year. That’s been our real bright spot has been our base running,” La Rose said.
“We have a lot of very fast players that just have the automatic green light to go wherever they want.”
The latter innings saw the Canucks not only steal multiple bases per runner but also cause the Dodgers pitcher to focus on base runners.
“We are putting pressure on their left handed pitcher and kind of making them make mistakes in those last few innings.”
Despite the two losses La Rose described the Canucks pitching as one big positive in both games. He also said the base running stuck out as a positive in both games of the double header.
MISSED OUT - Weyburn unsuccessfully attempts to catch the ball to pick off Kayd Halyk when the ball ws thrown too low - MJ Independent photo
The fourth inning all but sealed the Canucks fate when Weyburn scored eight runs.
The Canucks fought back and were able to get on the scoreboard in the third inning when a player was hit with a pitch in the back loading the bases.
In the ensuing play they scored three runs making the score 14 - 4 in the Dodgers favour.
The fifth inning saw the Dodgers advance a runner to third base but two strikeouts by Canucks’ reliever Westermann held Weyburn scoreless in the inning.
A throwing error on the out at first advanced the batter Brayden Wood to second base. The Canucks had two runners in scoring positions.
A timely strikeout would end the fifth inning.
The Canucks’ single run in their half of the fifth inning made the score 14 - 5 for Weyburn staving off a mercy rule loss.
The sixth inning saw the Canucks score three runs to narrow the gap 14 - 8 for Weyburn.
The Canucks would strand two runners on base in the sixth inning in a Deja vu repeat strikeout to end the inning.
STARTING PITCHER - Despite being taken out of the game the Canucks’ starting pitcher Adam Sing still threw a decent game - MJ Independent photo
About the rally the Canucks had in the fifth and sixth innings La Rose said he was very impressed but it needs to be the entire game.
“They kind of started to come back again but I would be more impressed if we could do that from inning one all the way to inning seven. Get the momentum early and keep it until the end.”
Despite the criticism he said “I’m proud of them for being able to weather the storm and score a bunch of runs at the end there.”
Innings five and six saw the Canucks strand runners at second and third base - runs that they needed.
“I think if we play nine inning games we win this ball game.”
He said the team started to “apply our pressure. We started to kind of get things rolling.”
A bright spot in the back half of the game was once the Canucks were able to survive a mercy loss in the fifth inning their defence improved.
Putting in a reliever for a starting to tire starting pitcher Adam Sing was a major part of powering the Canucks rally.
LONG STRETCH - Weyburn Dodgers’ third baseman attempts to snag a ball that is hit just out of his reach. The hit put the Canucks’ batter on first base - MJ Independent photo
Sage Westermann who came in on relief in the fourth inning managed to corral the Dodgers only giving up two runs.
Asked about how he threw the ball Westermann agreed he had a good outing.
“Yeah I’m happy (with my performance) 100 percent.”
“You know our starter (Adam Sing) did his best and I came in to shut the game in,” he said.
Asked about the strikeouts he managed to generate Westermann said “I just started hitting the zone and it worked.”
He credited the team for his strong game in relief.
“Yeah this team has been great. They’re behind me 100 percent of the way and I couldn’t do it with another better team.”
RELIEVER - Moose Jaw Canucks reliever Sage Westermann came on and managed to only give up two runs to the Weyburn Dodgers - MJ Independent photo
The pair of losses move the Canucks to a 4 - 8 regular season record.
The Canucks next game will be played on Wednesday evening versus the Regina Athletics. The game starts at 6:30 pm at Ross Wells Park.