Now that’s how you start a baseball season.
The Moose Jaw 15U AAA Cancuks used timely hitting early and solid plate discipline late to go on to a 15-5 victory over the Regina Wolfpack in Sask Premier Baseball League action at Blackwell Diamond on Thursday night.
The contest was the first of the season for both clubs and the first game played on the completely renovated field at Blackwell, including a brand-new scoreboard donated by the Moose Jaw Kinsmen.
Things were close in the early going between the two teams, as the Canucks held a 3-2 lead through the first three innings. That all changed the next frame, though, and once the Moose Jaw bats got going, the score added up quickly.
The Canucks extended their lead to 6-2 through four innings, lead 11-4 through five and tacked on another four runs in the final two frames to cap the contest.
As one might expect, plenty of Cancuks had solid days at the plate as their team depth quickly rose to the forefront -- all 10 hitters scored at least a run for Moose Jaw, and all but one player had at least one run batted in.
Spencer Craig showed a great eye at the plate by going 1-for-1, drawing three walks, scoring a pair of runs and knocking in a pair. Luke Pratte, Kyren Ernest, Ryder Hicks and Brettin Hutchinson all scored a pair of runs each, while Ryan Gibbs Kaison Skeoch, Marcus Capili and Russell MacDonald had a pair of RBI apiece. Capili was the only Moose Jaw player with more than a single hit on the night as he went 2-for-4.
As an early-season game, it was a pitching-by-committee situation as both teams looked to build up arm strength.
Hicks pitched two innings and allowed a single earned run on three hits while striking out five, while Capili and Ernest held Regina scoreless the next two innings, striking out five between them. Skeoch allowed three runs, one earned, on three hits over the next two innings and Ronan Tonge closed things out with a scoreless seventh that included a pair of Ks.
All told, Moose Jaw pitchers struck out 15 hitters on the night.
The Canucks are back in action on Sunday when they host the South East A’s. Game time is 12 p.m. at Blackwell Diamond.
