The Moose Jaw Canucks found themselves in a pair of close contests to open their Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League 18U AA season this past weekend, but they’re still seeking their first win.
The Canucks dropped a 7-6 decision in extra innings to the North Battleford Beavers on Saturday before falling 3-1 to the Prince Albert Royals Sunday to kick off the 2022 campaign.
Moose Jaw looked to have things going their way in their season opener at Montgomery Field, as a pair of runs in the first inning and three in the fifth saw the Canucks holding a 5-3 lead heading into the late innings.
The Beavers rallied with a pair in the sixth, though, and would take the game into extra innings.
There, North Battleford took advantage of an error to score a pair of runs and managed to allow only a single run despite getting into a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the inning.
Shaune Reimer finished the day 1-for-3 with two runs scored, while Tayden Hardwicke also crossed the plate twice. Brendan Gerbrandt was 1-for-3 with a pair of runs batted in.
Dylan Anderson got the start for Moose Jaw and allowed a single run on two hits while striking out four in 3 ⅔ innings of work. A platoon of four players took the mound to close things out.
The Canucks just couldn’t find a way to solve Prince Albert’s Nick Dutchak on Sunday, as the Royals hurler went six innings and allowed a single run on three hits while striking out 13 to earn the win.
Gerbrandt turned in a solid showing of his own on the mound, giving up three unearned runs and not allowing a hit in 4 ⅓, striking out seven. Aaden Husband closed things out, allowing a hit and striking out four.
Gerbrandt helped out his own cause with a 2-for-3 night at the plate, including an RBI. Anderson scored their lone run in the sixth inning.
The Canucks are right back in action on Tuesday when they host the Lumsden Cubs. Game time is 6:30 p.m. at Ross Wells.
