Canucks Drop Tournament Opener
Moose Jaw Canucks’ pitcher Nate Hawrysh unleashes a strike - MJ Independent photo
Lapses in two innings cost the Moose Jaw 15U A Canucks dearly as they lost the opening game of the provincial Tier Six championship 8 - 2 to the Rosetown Angels.
Despite the loss Moose Jaw still remains in the hunt for provincial gold in the four team round robin tournament.
The Angels were able to break open what had been a 1 - 1 game on a two run home run by Lucas Bencharski in the fifth inning.
Rosetown would have a big offensive 7th inning scoring four runnings to make a comeback almost impossible by the Canucks.
The Canucks’ third baseman - MJ Independent photo
“It was a great game. Five innings of pretty good ball and two innings of subpar ball,” Canucks head coach Randy LaRose told MJ Independent.
Despite the loss the round robin format means the Canucks are still in the hunt for Sunday’s with two more games coming up on Saturday.
The game against the Saskatoon
The Canucks are going to have to make some changes in their hitting which was poor at times versus the Angels.
The two shot home run by Rosetown’s Lucas Bencharski - MJ Independent photo
“We’re going to have to pick up on our hitting. Looking at third strike is just not acceptable,” he said, adding “when these guys see those last two pitchers that had some pop they got to be getting ready a lot sooner.”
“When they get their bats moving these guys can compete with damn near anybody.”
He said the heat was not a factor in the game. The team has played in hotter conditions.
The Canucks have had a decent season and winning provincials is not out of reach.
A player on on first base - MJ Independent photo
“It was actually a pretty good game. We finished like fifth in league standings and we were doing pretty good until we got rained out. We’ll continue them next week. We ended on a high note,” he said.
Rosetown’s Lucas Bencharski rounds third base after hitting a two run shot over the right field fence - MJ Independent photo
The Canucks take to the field Saturday July 18th at 10:45 against the Sask Five Giants.
They round out round robin play at 5:45 pm versus the Saskatoon Cardinals Onyx.
Both games are at Blackwell Diamond.
Admission is FREE.
