18U AAA Canucks End Season On Bittersweet
Monday evening was a tough night for the Moose Jaw 18U AAA Canucks as they wrapped up their season with a double loss to the Regina Wolfpack.
The Canucks would struggle back to lose 14 - 11 to the Wolfpack in Game One. In Game Two of the doubleheader the Canucks would trail losing 12 - 2 in a five innings mercy rule final.
Emotions ran high as players said goodbye to one another and to the coaching staff. Most will hopefully be returning next season to build a better team but five are aged out of minor league baseball. They won’t be back.
And just like that the Canucks season was over.
The runners advance - MJ Independent photo
Monday’s Games
Play wise the Canucks’ season ended in a pair of losses.
One where they fought back and another where they were left in the dust.
“It’s typical of the season. There’s one game where we are down a lot and battled back. We never gave up but fell just a little short,” Canucks head coach Darryl Pisio said, adding “then the next game was as it’s been in the past it just got away from us. There’s next thing you know it’s too much to much of an uphill to battle through.”
Pisio said it’s he tale of the Canucks’ season.
“We’re a team that has to just be scrappy.”
He saw good things happening for the heavily weighted rookie team as they enter their second year in 2027.
“There’s 11 returning this year. If they put the work in and get bigger , stronger and faster you know they’ll be some bright things for people to watch in the next one or two years,” Pisio said.
Wishes Foe Season Past and Future
“First off we would like to have a lot more wins. But we knew it was going to be tough again we have a young group so that core group it’s going to take some time,” he said.
“It’s been a tough, tough grueling season.”
The team is made up of players of physically different sizes.
“You look on the ball field and you can tell what kids look 18 years old and what kids look 16 years old. There’s a difference.”
Despite the age and size differences he sees some talent and bright spots on the Canucks.
“There are some talented players that are coming up.”
Pisio is just hopeful the players take the things he and the coaches have said and apply them.
Player Development
Pisio said how much players develop is really dependent on the players.
“Let’s be honest we can talk until we’re blue in the face about these are the things you need to do but realistically it’s going to come down to them,” he said.
Batting wise the team was great with a team average over .300 and fielding the ball the team has been strong. The problem is errors.
“There’s errors we need to tighten up on. There’s time we can hit the ball again it’s finding that consistency.”
At first base - MJ Independent photo
“As you get to this level you have to be more and more consistent.”
“There are times if you walk a guy it can cost you walk a guy. And there are times where if you make errors that can cost you,” Pisio said.
The big thing is when you walk a guy or you make an air you have to let it go and get ready for the next pitch Pisio said it’s something the team has to learn and abide by.
Character Development
Asked about character development Pisio said the team has progressed.
“That’s been the biggest thing we’ve been trying to coach the kids on. I said baseball is 20 percent physical and 80 percent mental. We’re 19 out of 20 physically we can play the game…it really comes down to that mental toughness.”
He said it was all about how do you act when things go well and how do you act when things go bad which make the difference between winning and losing.
Pisio said the team is made up of good kids that “in the end they’ve just got to believe in themselves.”
In the bull pen - MJ Independent photo
“Let’s be honest there are a lot of kids who are very talented and if they put in the work they can go on to college ball,” Pisio said.
So far he has coached 11 kids - including three this year - that have gone on to play college ball.
“It’s awesome for the city of Moose Jaw to see that development and that happening. I just hope the kids understand there is opportunity for you and take advantage of the time you have and don’t just waste it.”
Three Graduates Off To College
Three graduating Canucks are off to play baseball at the college level next year.
Ryder Hicks and Hunter Scott will be teammates together at Professional Baseball Academy in Lethbridge.
Kyron Ernest is off to the University of Victoria.
Retirement - Hanging Up the Cleats
For Pisio it’s time to retire officially with coaching. The time commitment is just too heavy.
“I’m retiring again. I came out of retirement but I’m going back into retirement. I understand why I retired in the first place it’s a lot of work,” Pisio said.
He said he would like to spend more time watching his son who plays for the Moose Jaw Miller Express. Additionally he wants to watch his son in college by having the freedom to take off on a weekend to watch him play ball.
“This is kind of like more of a current situation when you need somebody to come in and coach so I helped out. It’s time for someone else to step up and help out.”
