CHILLIWACK, B.C. -- The Moose Jaw Canucks are coming home with a sixth-place finish from the Western Canadian Baseball Association 13U AAA championship.
The Canucks dropped a 10-0 decision to the Alberta representative Parkland Twins in the fifth-sixth place game on Sunday, not long after a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to host Chilliwack in a three-inning playoff game earlier in the day.
Moose Jaw had forced the playoff after putting together a 2-1 record in the round robin, defeating Chilliwack 8-7 in their opener before falling 16-0 to Manitoba’s South Central Cubs and defeating Alberta’s YAL Sluggers 7-3.
Canucks 8, Chilliwack 7
The Canucks fell behind 4-0 in the first inning but rallied with three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth to take the lead. They padded their edge with two more runs in the sixth and another in the seventh, and ended up needing all of them when the Cougars rallied with three in their half of the final inning.
Beckett Bauck went 2-for-4 with a run scored and RBI, Kaleb Friesen knocked in a pair. Evan Audette had a single hit, but it was a big one, a solo home run in the sixth.
Kallen Berner, Lennon Kleisinger and Griffin Audette all saw action on the mound, with Blake Harris earning the win.
South Central 16, Canucks 0
South Central blew open a one-run game with five runs in the second inning and another seven in the third, eventually ending the game by mercy rule after the fourth inning.
Moose Jaw had only four hits, with Kleisinger getting a pair of knocks, Harris and Daxon Mackow each reaching base twice.
The Canucks defence didn’t help starter Evan Audette much, as only eight of the 13 runs he allowed over three innings were earned. Weston Ermel pitched the fourth to close things out.
Moose Jaw 7, YQL 3
YQL took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth when Moose Jaw’s bats came alive, scoring three to tie things up. The Canucks would then take the lead and then some with three more in the sixth and would hold on for the win.
Harris turned in a solid effort on the mound, allowing three runs on three hits over 4 ⅔ innings and striking out six. J.J. Herauf pitched the final 2 ⅓ and gave up only two hits while striking out three.
Herauf also hit a solo home run in the second inning while Tanner Usher scored a pair of runs and had two RBI. Griffin Audette crossed the plate twice.
Chilliwack 5, Moose Jaw 4 (three innings)
Things looked good for the Canucks to start the micro-game, as they took a 4-1 lead out of the first inning. Chilliwack would respond with four runs in the second, though, and would hold Moose Jaw off the board in the third to take the win and advance to the semifinal.
Harris led the offence, going 2-for-2 with a double, run scored and RBI.
Griffin Audette allowed four runs, three earned on three hits over 1 ⅔ innings. Berner surrendered a single run in the third.
Parkland 10, Moose Jaw 0
Parkland scored one in the first inning and that’s where the game would stand until the fifth, when the Alberta reps poured eight runs across the plate. They’d add another in the sixth to invoke the mercy rule and claim fifth place.
The Canucks had only three hits, with Evan Audette, Friesen and Quentin Vanbocquestal reaching base.
Vanbocquestal had a great start for Moose Jaw, giving up a single run on four hits through four innings. Kleisinger and Ermel each allowed four runs in the fifth, Bauck gave up a single run in the sixth.
