U15 AAA Canucks Remain Unbeaten After A Trio Of Victories
Canucks 11 - White Sox 8
Double Header
Canucks 11 - White Sox 10 (Game One)
Canucks 15 - White Sox 5 (Game Two)
By Robert Thomas
A trio of wins give the U15 AAA Canucks a 14 - 0 record to start the season.
Two of the wins came from winning the double header against the Regina White Sox whereas the third win came as a result of not finishing of a 3 - 3 game due to the lack of light earlier in the spring.
A challenge the Canucks were able to rise against successfully.
“It was a little bit of a different dynamic due to the fact that it’s the first inning of the day but it was seventh inning of that tie game. So I just like how our guys came out with high intensity for that inning to finish that game off against a really good team,” Canucks U15 AAA head coach Craig Flanagan said.
“I’m proud of the guys with the intensity they came out with right away.”
The Canucks would win the game 11 - 8.
Canucks pitcher Lucas Lind during the first game of the double header - MJ Independent photo
“It was going back and forth I like the dynamic of how we were swinging the bats,” Flanagan said about the positives coming from the Canucks in the first full game of the double header.
“We’re scoring a lot of runs every single game. If anything (needs to be fixed) I think our defence could get cleaned up a little bit,” he said.
The Canucks would start of the first inning of the double header’s first inning by taking a 2 - 1 lead.
After three innings the White Sox led 3 - 2.
The White Sox picked up two runs in the fourth inning versus a single run for the Canucks. The score was White Sox 5 and Canucks 3.
The fifth inning was a big inning for the Canucks as they scored four runs versus two runs by the White Sox.
The score was tied 7 - 7 after five innings of play.
The White Sox scored a single run in the sixth inning whereas the Canucks scored three runs. The score was Canucks 10 - White Sox 8.
The seventh inning saw the White Sox grab two runs to force the game into extra innings.
The Canucks would score a run for a walk off 11 - 10 victory.
Canucks Usher watches as a pitch is high and called a ball - MJ Independent photo
“As far as this team goes against the Regina White Sox any time you can get in a win against them you’ve got to feel good about it,” Flanagan said.
About the major unbeaten streak to start the season he said it’s coming from an inspired Canucks squad.
“The guys they’ve got to feel proud about themselves. What I like about this team is they have a belief amongst themselves that everyone they come onto the field and into a game they feel like they are a strong team and can win any game,” Flanagan said.
Asked about the windy weather and any effect it might be having on the game Flanagan said it was “irrelevant” as both teams had to put up with it.
“It’s the same for both teams…we practiced in it yesterday.”
He did admit with the wind both sides would have a “more challenging” day for the pitchers.
A major problem was the dust would call for the umpire to temporarily suspend play and pitchers on both sides hit a lot of dust in their eyes.
He said the attitude in batting is a major force behind the Canucks success on Sunday and throughout the season.
“I feel like our team, each player doesn’t have to feel they get a major at bat, They just need to have to get on base and pass it down to the next one…our whole team is very good at having bats and hitting the ball.”
A Canucks player slides into third base - MJ Independent photo
The second game of the double header saw the Canucks take the lead 3 - 2 in the first inning and never relinquish it.
During the fifth inning the Canucks were awarded the mercy rule victory 15 - 5.
A mercy rule win is whenever one team has a 10 or more run lead anytime after the fifth inning.