15U AAA Canucks Win A Pair
Big afternoon for the Moose Jaw 15U AAA Canucks as they won both games of a doubleheader versus the Regina Athletics.
The Canucks won Game One 19 - 3 in a fifth inning mercy rule victory. Game Two went extra innings with the Canucks winning a 12 - 11 walk off victory.
The Canucks two veteran players - Lucas Lind and Taylor Usher made - played key roles in both victories.
Usher would record three hits in four at bats for the Canucks. He hit a double, triple and a single in the game.
In game two Usher had strong defensive play collecting a blooper pop up and fielding a ground ball for key outs sapping the Athletics’ momentum.
Canucks’ third baseman Taylor Usher made a key catch in game two of Saturday afternoon’s doubleheader - MJ Independent photo
Lind would be part of two key plays in game two.
He was part of a double play that ended a major threat from the Athletics that could have given Regina the victory.
Trailing 11 - 9 Lind would hit a long fly ball out of the park for a two shot home run tying the score at 11 - 11 in the seventh inning.
The second game wasn’t without controversy as just ahead of the Lind home run there was an ejection in the seventh inning.
The controversy was about whether or not a Canucks player was safe or out after sliding into third. The Canucks player was called out in a close call sliding into third base.
Game One’s second inning was big for the Canucks as they scored nine runs on six hits.
Quinn Roberts doubled scoring two runs for the Canucks.
On base at third - MJ Independent photo
Canucks rookie player Tanner Usher showed a lot of heart in game two.
Usher was slightly injured after stepping in a suspected gopher hole in left field but remained in the game. He would go up to bat where he would eventually ground out but not before hitting a few foul balls running up the pitcher’s pitching count.
Regina’s leadoff batter Brayden Blyth went three for three at the plate in game one.
The Athletics would take a 9 - 7 lead scoring seven runs in four hits in the fourth inning of the second game.
The Canucks shortstop Lucas Lind said the afternoon was a good outing for Moose Jaw.
“The first game went really well we were locked in right from the start. From the first pitch. There was good defence all around for both games. We hit the ball when we needed to. We made timely hits,” Lind said.
About his home run that scored two runs tying the game at 11 he said “it felt great” to make the big hit.
A swing and a miss - MJ Independent photo
About the controversy just before his home run Lind said “big risk big reward.”
Asked if he was happy with the Canucks’ play Lind said he was.
“One hundred percent we played great today other than a few defensive errors. Other than that we played great. There are no complaints at all.”
Lind thanked his teammates for setting up the huge double play that ended the inning with the Athletics threatening.
“I feel good right now. I feel like we can run the table for the rest of the way. Our team has that ability. If we play up to our ability we’ll do great and in first place.”
Canucks head coach Rodney Audette said he is really happy with how well the team played on Saturday.
“There was two really good games by the kids. The first game the kids were really at the batter’s box. We were really aggressive in the base paths Regina had a couple of innings where errors bit them a little bit other than that defensively we were really sound,” he said.
Another key factor was the Canucks bullpen came through with very sound pitching.
“I’m happy about both games. The kids were engaged all game for both games. They did a fantastic job.”
In earlier interviews Audette said at times there was a lack of engagement at times that hurt the Canucks.
Canucks’ third baseman Taylor Usher fields a ground ball in game two of the doubleheader - MJ Independent photo
About the team’s development he said “I think we’re starting to turn a corner and starting to gel as a team. We’re three and two in our last five games. And we generated 31 runs in these two games.”
“We’re starting to come around.”
A rare conference between the Canucks’ pitcher and bat catcher - MJ Independent photo
The Canucks play a doubleheader on Sunday June 7th at 12 noon and 3 pm versus the Saskatoon Brewers at Blackwell Diamond
