The Moose Jaw Canucks looked like they had something going at the Baseball Regina 13-and-under AAA league playoffs this past weekend, but one tough game at the wrong time ended up seeing their run come to an end.
The Canucks pounded out a 15-11 win over the Regina Red Sox and downed the Regina Buffalos 17-11 in their two round-robin games to finish first in their pool, but ran into the Swift Current 57’s ace and dropped a tough decision in the semifinal.
Moose Jaw had the last week off to prepare for the Baseball Sask 13U AAA provincial championships, which begin Friday in Regina.
Drayson Silbernagel had himself a game at the plate in their opening contest, going 2-for-2 with a walk and knocking in five runs thanks to a home run in his first at-bat and grand slam the next trip to the plate.
Avery Nielsen had a 3-for-3 showing that also included a home run, while Van Glasser and Grady Johnstone also had perfect 3-or-3 outings at the plate.
Silbernagel got the start on the mound and went five strong before Reid Weiss and Neilsen closed things out with an inning of relief each.
Things went just as well in their second round robin game. The Canucks saw what Silbernagel got up to and apparently decided they all wanted some of that action, as five players would crank out seven home runs to secure the high-scoring win.
Nielsen led the way with a 3-for-3 day that included two home runs and Ronan Tonge -- who returned to the line-up from a broken arm that required surgery -- went 2-for-3 with two home runs of his own.
Glasser, Max Craig and Ryker Kretsch also hit round trippers in the contest, and all told, 12 players had at least a base hit in the win.
Craig pitched the first 5 ⅓ innings, Nielsen came on in the sixth to close things out.
The Canucks finished first in their pool and played the fourth-place team from the round robin in the semifinal, but ran into a hot pitcher at the worst possible time.
Glasser hit a home run for Moose Jaw’s lone run, while Takeo Smith had hits in both trips to the plate.
