15 U AAA Canucks Drop Home Opener

The 15U AAA dropped a pair of games on Saturday afternoon including their home opener to the visiting Southeast Twins.

The Canucks saw themselves in a hole to start out both games of the doubleheader to the Twins.

The Twins took game one 20 - 0 on a five inning mercy rule loss.

Game two saw the Twins once again win a five inning mercy rule victory 19 - 2 over the Canucks.

Canucks Tanner Usher at bat - MJ Independent photo

The Canucks hot of last regular season’s 31 and 1 almost perfect campaign are a young club as there is only two returnees on the roster found themselves handcuffed at times by experienced Twins’ pitchers.

Inexperience and timidity of AAA rookies at times haunted the Canucks as they sought their footing in a new tougher division than last season.

The Canucks in the second game seemed to gain their footing as they loaded up the bases on some strong hits only to come up empty.

A Twins’ player scores a run after an overthrow to the plate - MJ Independent photo

“I would say the Southeast Twins are a very well disciplined and good team. They come to play today whereas our boys have to understand they have to be prepared before the game,” Canucks’ head coach Rodney Audette said.

Asked about the youth the Canucks have this year with only two returnees from last season he said it does affect the team.

“One it takes time for everybody to gel as a team. I think we have a good mix of ball players on the team and some haven’t played at a triple A level before so it makes a big difference too “ he said, adding “when you’re talking about playing against teams with nine or ten guys from the year before…so it makes a big difference too.”

He said the Canucks will take time to adapt to AAA ball.

The Canucks batboy took a two handed approach to the job - MJ Independent photo

“At the end of the year I think we’re going to be in it with everyone else,” Audette said, adding the team had only played four games and there was a lot of season to go.

The biggest obstacle for the Canucks this year is going to be pitching but every other team will be facing the same challenges.

The Canucks had to utilize players who weren’t normally pitchers during the game due to rule changes.

Sask Baseball’s new rule effective 2026 is a pitcher can only throw 80 pitches, cannot pitch in two games on the same day and also they cannot pitch on two consecutive days in May.

“When you have games like this you start throwing in kids who don’t normally pitch and you run the risk of sore arms or hurting arms.”

Canucks’ pitcher Tucker Knoop delivers the ball - MJ Independent photo

He pointed out last weekend’s doubleheader in Regina and how the Canucks had to use two pitchers per game and came up with a 1 - 1 split.

“It just depends how the other team hits. Today in the first game they hit really well in the first two innings and in the second game pretty much the same thing. They scored on hitting the ball and we had too many pass balls that didn’t help us,” he said.

The team still lacks some confidence.

The Canucks’ infield watches a new pitcher warming up - MJ Independent photo

“I think they’re all a little bit jittery but you have to remember there are 11 first year kids this year in triple A. They have to find their way,” Audette said.

The 15U AAA’s next game is a doubleheader at home on Sunday May 10 at 12 pm and 3 pm versus the Saskatoon Expos at Blackwell Diamond.