Lightning Threat And Class Highlights Of Moose Jaw All Stars Postponed Tournament Opener
By Robert Thomas
REGINA, SK - Lightning may have been a good thing in Robert Redford’s great portrayal of Roy Hobbs in the movie The Natural - spoofed on an episode of The Simpsons - but on Tuesday evening the threat of lightning wasn’t.
After two lengthy weather delays of lightning spotted the game between the Moose Jaw Little League AAA Major Allstars - representing the Prairies - and Ontario Little League West at the Canadian Little League Championships in Regina was called due to the weather.
The game got underway on time but was quickly delayed due to lightning.
Ontario scores a run after the first resumption of play - MJ Independent photo
After play resumed Ontario West managed to get two runners on base with a walk followed by a double. Ontario West would go on to score a run when play was suspended for the second time due to lightning.
With the Ontario West dugout being the closest to the clubhouse the team from down east were all inside before Moose Jaw was and took a coveted leather couch and arm chair seats.
Ontario West’s head coach then did likely one of the classiest and more sportsman like actions telling his players “OK guys be fair you give up the couch to Moose Jaw you got to sit on it the last time.”
When the Moose Jaw team arrived, the couch and chairs were empty for them.
Members of the Moose Jaw team - sitting on the couch with their backs to the camera - talk to members of the Ontario squad - MJ Independent photo
The Ontario West coach did this despite the fact the team had arrived in Regina at 3 AM on Ontario time and not been able to get to sleep until 5 AM affectively wiping out an entire day for the team.
After waiting through the second lengthy weather delay the decision was made to postpone the game.
The game is tentatively set to be made up on August 8th with the game restarting from beginning.
Moose Jaw’s next game scheduled for tomorrow at 10:30 AM against the team from Quebec’s Mirabel Academy.
