Moose Jaw Ice win one of three to open U12 B exhibition series

The Moose Jaw U12 B Ice went looking for some high-level competition while hosting a five-team exhibition event this weekend, and they’ve found that and then some.

The Ice dropped a pair of games to the Humboldt Thunder on Friday to open the event, falling 11-8 and 17-8 before rallying for an 18-14 win over Swift Current in their first game Saturday.

Moose Jaw was back on the diamond on Saturday afternoon against Estevan and will close out the tournament against Gravelbourg (10 a.m.) and the Moose Jaw A Ice (4 p.m.) Sunday.

Humboldt 11, Ice 8

The Ice ran into something they hadn’t seen a lot of in their first game of the weekend – a team that could throw strikes on the regular, make plays in the field and most definitely weren’t afraid to swing the bat.

Humboldt built a 9-1 lead by the time the Ice got things going in the fifth, where they scored five runs to close to within four 10-6, but a complete comeback wasn’t in the cards.

The Ice had only one hit in the contest – that off the bat of Georgia Fowler – and scored all their runs in the fifth on walks and hit batters, much as has been the case all season.

Avery Funke, Fowler and Maddie Cruz all saw action in the circle for Moose Jaw.

Humboldt 17, Ice 8

Humboldt scored the maximum five runs in the first and fifth innings on their way to their commanding win.

Bella Schultz walked three times and scored two runs for the Ice, who had only two hits – Chloe Giraudier went 1-for-2 with a run scored, Fowler 1-for-1 with a run and an RBI. All told, the Ice drew 14 walks in the contest.

Funke, Sophia Johnstone and Aurora Wingenbach pitched for the Ice.

Ice 18, Swift Current 14

The Ice got back on the winning track in their first contest Saturday, but they had to do a bit of work to get there – trailing 12-4 heading into their half of the third, the Ice score five runs to get back within three. After holding the Sonic scoreless in the top of the fourth, they’d pour another five across to go up 14-12, and followed with the game-winning four-spot in the fifth after Swift Current tied the game in their half of the frame.

Funke led the way at the plate, going to 2-for-3 with a run and four RBI, while Giraudier, Joelle Bochler, Jayden Babich, Bree Sangster and Kayla Chartier all scored two runs each. The Ice racked up 22 walks in the game to go along with seven hits.

Funke, Fowler, Wingenbach and Cruz all pitched.