U18 AAA Canucks Fall In Doubleheader
It was a tough evening for the U18 AAA Canucks.
The second place Canucks dropped both games to Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League‘s top U18 AAA team the Saskatoon Diamondbacks.
In Game One of the doubleheader the Canucks lost 4 - 3.
Game Two of the doubleheader saw the Canucks blown out by the Diamondbacks 11 - 4.
The losses likely mean - if the Canucks hold pace - the Canucks will finish up in second place in the league’s regular season.
Moose Jaw Canucks starting pitcher Max Simmons managed to keep the Saskatoon Diamondbacks off of the scoreboard until the fourth inning.
The Diamondbacks came alive in the fourth inning scoring five runs - MJ Independent photo
Canucks 2 - Diamondbacks 4
Game One of the doubleheader saw the Canucks score two runs in the fourth inning.
The Canucks were unable to put up anymore runs in the game.
The Diamondbacks scored a single run in the first inning.
Saskatoon would take a 2 - 0 lead by scoring a single run in the top of the fourth inning.
In their half of the fourth inning the Canucks would score two runs tying the game 2 - 2.
The tie would last until the seventh inning when the Diamondbacks would score two runs making the score 4 - 2 for Saskatoon.
The Canucks’ Noah Thul managed to get on base with a single but in the ended was stranded on base to end the inning.
Canucks batter Noah Thul attempts to lay down a bunt in Game Two of a doubleheader - MJ Independent photo
Canucks 4 - Diamondbacks 11
Game Two saw the Canucks start the game with two runs in the first inning.
The Canucks’ Garrett Gultzan opened up the first inning with a triple.
He was followed by Ryder Hicks who hit a single.
The Canucks strong start continued into the third inning where Hicks would score his second run.
The Diamondbacks would jump ahead of the Canucks 5 - 3 in the fifth inning. Strong hitting fired the Diamondbacks offence that scored five runs.
The Canucks fought back with a single run in the fifth making the score 5 - 4 in the Diamondbacks favour.
With the Diamondbacks not scoring in the sixth inning there was the opportunity for the Canucks to come from behind.
But another big inning sealed the victory for Saskatoon. The Diamondbacks scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Canucks batter Tyson Ross is fooled by a pitch in Game Two - MJ Independent photo
“The scoreboard was disappointing,” Canucks head coach Taylor Elder said.
Despite the double loss Elder said the Canucks had some good things happen.
“Ryland (Caplette-Tarrant) came out and he threw very well giving us a chance to win (in Game One),” he said.
Elder pointed out the Diamondbacks were a really good team - the Diamondbacks are number one in the standings and the Canucks are in second place.
“The outcome wasn’t ideal but it’s the kind of tuneup we need heading to provincials. It will sharpen us up we’ll get better.”
Despite the lopsided loss in Game Two he pointed out “Max (Simmons) threw well. There was a couple of plays we should have made to be a little bit easier on him.”
A bigger play for the Canucks defensively happened when second baseman Tyson Ross went down and blocked a seeing eye single getting the batter out at first and breaking up a potential Diamondbacks rally.
“Defensively it wasn’t our best game but we want to make plays for our pitcher… Tyson (Ross) coming up with the big play really helps our team.”
Elder said there were other good plays by the team such as bat catcher Noah Thul catching two great games. The Diamondbacks were unable to steal a single base in both games.
On the batting end Garritt Gulutzan’s lead off triple in Game One drew a special call out by Elder.
The Canucks play a doubleheader versus the Sask Five Marlins Saturday. Games get underway at 12 noon at Ross Wells field.