18U AAA Canucks Improve Despite Loss
Tough Thursday night for the 18U AAA Canucks as they fell 17 - 4 in a mercy rule loss to the visiting Regina White Sox.
It was a night of highs and lows for the Canucks as they gave up eight runs in the fifth inning - including a grand slam - and five runs in the sixth inning.
On the plus side the Canucks exhibited some strong bats at the plate - highlighted by a Spencer Craig RBI - and a textbook double play snuffing out a White Sox drive.
The first four innings saw the Canucks stand up against the White Sox.
Canucks recover from a pass ball for a textbook out at home plate - MJ Independent photo
“We had some decent at bats against a good pitcher but we kind of let it get away from us in one inning,” third baseman Spencer Craig told MJ Independent in a post game interview.
“I think we did pretty good against trying to snag some hits,” Craig said about the team’s play against White Sox starter and game winner Ethan Johnson.
Craig came up big with an RBI that scored a run and for a time threatened to take momentum away from Regina.
“I was just trying to have a good at bat and score the run,” he said.
Canucks’ Neal Kohl slides into third base - MJ Independent photo
With the 18U Canucks being a young team and Craig in his final season there is pressure for him to take a leadership role.
“We have a lot of guys coming up from 15U so you have got to show them what it’s like to play on a different level as everything is different.”
Examples of differences is in the size of the field and tougher level of play.
Craig said the 15U players are adapting quickly to the jump in a division.
Canucks’ first baseman Max Craig played a strong game - MJ Independent photo
Another major play that threatened to take the wind out of the White Sox’s sails was a called out at home plate.
With Canucks’ bat catcher Emery Schoenroth missing a Ronan Tonge pitch the White Sox’s Kobe Thomson was green lighted to head for home.
Schoenroth managed to recover the ball quickly and throw it to Tonge who made the tag at home plate that once the dust settled was ruled as an out on the White Sox.
For 18U AAA Canucks head coach Darryl Pisio the final score was not indicative of how well the team actually played.
“Basically after four (innings) it’s 4 - 2 and we’re in the game everything is bowing back and forth and then things kind of got away from us a little bit,” Pisio said.
Pitching for the Canucks had its high points and low points.
“Again our pitching we had some positives with it and then there’s some we’ve just got to get that first pitch strike. The first pitch strike is important otherwise you’re pitching from behind and you get into trouble that way and that is kind of what happened,” Pisio said.
Canucks’ reliever Ronan Tonge came in to pitch two innings - MJ Independent photo
He disagreed the Canucks ran up against a hot team on Thursday evening.
“I don’t think they’re a hot team I don’t think they are anything special in any way. I think honestly what it comes down to is getting behind in counts and then all of a sudden it becomes their at pitch. All of a sudden their advantage when their dealing with two out counts or three and one counts.”
“I think we just have to pound the zone on the first pitch strike,” Pisio said.
The double play the Canucks turned was a major high point for the team.
“We’re a young team and we’re growing. There was a lot of positives today for some at bats where we extended the bats where we were down 0 - 2 and worked a walk…we had some good hits. We had some good defensive plays and good pitching.”
“It’s just trying to bring it all together,” he said.
Canucks’ starting pitcher Hunter Scott - MJ Independent photo
A major positive for the Canucks is they had no errors. In their home opener on Tuesday evening a pair of errors cost the team in a major way.
“If you take the score out of it and just watch the game you will see we are continuing to get better each and every time. It’s just to put it all together,” Pisio said.
Trotting into third base - MJ Independent photo
The Canucks play a double header at home this Saturday May 9th at 1 pm and 3 pm versus the Saskatoon Cubs at Ross Wells Field. Admission is free and for those interested the team has a 50/50 draw.
