Even though they dropped a 13-2 decision to North Regina, they still had their share of opportunities to put runs on the board -- in fact, they had baserunners in every inning but final one and even stranded the bases loaded in the second.
And when you’re a team mostly comprised of 11-year-olds taking on a crew of players almost entirely a year older, that’s not a bad sign for the future.
North Regina scored a pair of runs in the first and tacked on three more in each of the third and fourth to lead 8-1 before closing out the game with a five-spot in the sixth.
Emery Schoenroth got Moose Jaw on the board in the third inning before Luke Turner added their second run in the fifth.
Rylan Gray and Colton Lacelle saw action on the mound for the Miller Express.
The provincial tournament would normally decide the Prairie representative for the Canadian Little League championship, but with the national event cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic, provincials are simply being played for pride.
Nationals were also cancelled last year, meaning the Moose Jaw Little League All-Stars who won the 2019 title and travelled to Ancaster, Ont. for Canadians are the defending champions.
Game two provincials will take place Friday night, with game time at 6:15 p.m. at Gamble Diamond.
