As it stands, the 18-and-under squad ran into defensive issues from the fifth inning on in both ends of their doubleheader with the Saskatoon Cub at Ross Wells Park on Wednesday night, dropping 13-7 and 7-4 decisions.
The Canucks are now 6-10 on the season and return to action Saturday when they host the East Central Red Sox for a twinbill at Ross Wells. Game times are 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Cubs 13, Canucks 7
The two teams found themselves in a back-and-forth battle through the first four innings, with the Canucks overcoming a 5-1 deficit with a pair of runs in each of the third and fourth innings.
Things went awry in the fifth, through, as the Cubs took advantage of five base hits to score six runs and take control of the contest.
Evan Callaghan led the offence with a 2-for-4 showing that included a run scored and run batted in, while Caleb Newkirk also knocked in a pair. Cole Breitkreuz and Nathan Varjassy scored two runs each.
Kaedyn Banilevic got the start and allowed five runs, three earned on seven hits while striking out four in 2 ⅔ innings of work; Cam O’Reilly allowed six runs on six hits over the next 1 ⅓. Callaghan closed things out, giving up the final two runs, neither earned, on three hits.
Cubs 7, Canucks 4
The Canucks trailed 2-0 heading into their half of the third when three straight singles and some solid baserunning would see the local squad take a 4-2 lead.
Saskatoon continued to chip away putting up a single run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to take the lead. They’d add single insurance markers over the final two innings.
Kyle Duncan tossed the first 2 ⅔ for Moose Jaw and gave up two runs on two hits, striking out a pair and walking five. Varjassy went the rest of the way and was victimized by some untimely errors, with only one of his five runs allowed earned. He’d give up four hits and strike out six through his five innings work.
Cole Breitkreuz had a 2-for-4 showing with a run and RBI, Kayden Hudson was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
