Third Inning Collapse Sink Canucks U18 A’s In Playoff Action
“It’s over? It’s over? It can’t be over. Let’s go it’s only the top of the sixth inning,” one of the Canucks U18 A players shouted only to find out the game was over due to the mercy rule.
Despite trailing 14 - 2 after five innings the majority of the team was ready to play more ball - even if the rules didn’t allow it.
But the enthusiasm wasn’t enough as the Moose Jaw Canucks U18 A lost 14 - 2 - in a mercy rule ending - against the visiting Weyburn Warhawks.
In the Canucks dugout (left to right) Zack Godlien, Gilbert Johnson, Adam Singh, Brayden Wood an Colton Lacelle - MJ Independent photo
“That’s the thing I love about this team. They’re always game to put in a fight. You know even when it’s objectively over, you see people in the stands saying ‘it’s over’, these guys are willing to go and prove someone wrong,” Canucks head coach Ethan La Rose said in the post game interview, adding “I appreciate them for that.”
The loss is the Canucks first in a double knockout (loss) and you’re out of playoff contention format.
The Canucks started out the game on a strong foot staying close to the Warhawks in the first two innings.
The Canucks’ Kaden Gerbrandt manages to get by the Warhawks second baseman and safe - MJ Independent photo
In the first inning the Warhawks grabbed a 1 - 0 lead but the Canucks would respond with a run of their own tying the game 1 - 1.
The second inning saw Weyburn score a single run and the Canucks going three up and three down. The Warhawks had a 2 - 1 lead.
The third inning was the undoing of the Canucks as the Warhawks would manage to score eight unanswered runs.
The score was Warhawks 10 and Canucks 2 after three innings.
A Warhawks player slides in safe at third base against the Canucks’ Dominic Harvey - MJ Independent photo
The fourth inning would see the Canucks power back against the strong Weyburn offence but unfortunately the hometown team couldn’t push a player past home plate.
Weyburn would get a runner in scoring position before a strikeout would strand him on second base.
The Canucks had a good inning managing to load the bases but they were unable to bring anyone home.
The fifth inning saw the Warhawks add four runs making the score 14 - 2.
With the mercy rule set to kick in the Canucks came out in high spirits but they were unable to generate any offence the game ending Weyburn 14 and Moose Jaw 2.
Nick Bechard was called in as a reliever for the Canucks - MJ Independent photo
Coach La Rose said the game was indicative of the team’s performances this season - up and down.
“That’s just the way it goes with this team. They can be the best team in this league and then in one inning they look like they’ve never played baseball before,” he said.
“It kills us. It kills is. It’s every time it’s just that one inning. And then we just can’t seem to bring it back from that.”
Despite the third inning collapse La Rose said the Canucks played a good game.
“It was a solid game.”
Dylan Loutit-Myers (left) watches a ball bounce off of a Warhawks player as the base runner was safe at second base - MJ Independent photo
The fourth inning stranding three runners was a tough one for the Canucks to swallow as they were seemingly on a roll.
“We’re leaving runners stranded when we are on offence it’s a big problem for us,” he said, adding “silly mental errors” were still costly.
Asked if the wet conditions and the wet tall grass was a factor La Rose said he wasn’t going to blame it on field conditions but just something the team has to overcome.
He refused to blame the field saying the team practices and plays on it a lot and should be use to it.
The Canucks next home game is Friday at 6:30 pm at Montgomery Field full details on the opponent is yet to be determined.
