They might not have a chance to play for a medal, but just taking the field at the Baseball Canada 13U national championship is a win in itself for Moose Jaw 13U AAA Canucks standouts Neal Kohl and Zaid Guillaume.
The duo are among 15 of the top 13-and-under players from throughout the province currently taking part in the 12-team tournament in Woodstock, Ont.
Unfortunately, Team Sask wasn’t able to build on a 14-7 win over Manitoba in their opening game and would go on to fall 21-4 to Ontario 1 in their second outing and 13-5 to Quebec 2 in game three before wrapping up the round robin Saturday afternoon with a 5-3 win over the hosts from Woodstock.
Their 2-2 record wasn’t enough to finish in the top two in their pool, and as a result, Saskatchewan will play in the ninth-tenth place game on Sunday morning.
Kohl enjoyed a stellar showing at the plate through the first two games, as batting fifth in the opener against Manitoba, he’d go 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.
Guillaume didn’t see action in the win as Team Sask scored in every inning, including four-spots in the fifth and seventh to pull away in what was a back-and-forth game to that point.
Maidstone’s Noah Perkins was 3-for-4 with a double, home run and three runs scored.
It was a tough one in Team Sask’s next outing, as an 11-run third inning would see the Ontario champions go on to their commanding win.
Kohl was right back at it, going 2-for-2 while hitting clean-up and hitting a run-scoring double in the third. Guillaume also figured into the scoring, reaching on a dropped third strike in the fourth and eventually coming around to score when Saskatoon’s George Pelrine hit into a fielder’s choice.
Saskatchewan found themselves behind the eight-ball early against Quebec, who scored seven runs in the first inning and built an 11-3 lead through three.
Kohl drew a walk to lead off the fourth inning, went to second on an error, third on a dropped third strike and scored on a wild pitch to score Team Sask’s fourth run.
Guillaume made his first appearance on the mound but was unable to stop the bleeding in the first inning, allowing two runs, one earned, on a hit and a walk while getting a single out.
Jayce Cookson was Team Sask’s top offensive producer, going 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI.
That loss all but eliminated Saskatchewan from a spot in the medal round, but they still went down swinging. Trailing 2-0 against Woodstock heading into the fifth, the Selects would break up a perfect game by Ontario’s Jake Lamb and put up five runs before eventually hanging on for the two-run win.
Kohl played a major role, taking over from Craven’s Colton Hansen in the top of the seventh with runners on first and second, Woodstock got a sacrifice fly to bring home one run and had the winning run at the plate, but Kohl would get a ground out and strikeout to end the game.
Guillaume hit fifth in the line-up but was unable to reach base.
The ninth-place game is set for 9 a.m. Moose Jaw time and will see Team Sask rematch Manitoba.
You can check out all the scores from the weekend by visiting www.baseball.ca.
