But some timely hitting by the Saskatoon Cardinals in the final inning, and an untimely error, led to the local squad taking a 4-3 loss in the 16-team tournament featuring the best AAA squads in the province.
Things were exceptionally close from start to finish in the contest. Saskatoon scored a pair in the fourth inning -- with a two-run home run by Rhett Anderson doing all the damage -- but Moose Jaw came right back in the top of the fifth.
Ryan Gibbs hit a two-out double to bring home Hunter Scott with the Canucks’ first run, and two batters later, Max Craig doubled home Gibbs to tie the game 2-2.
There the game remained until the top of the seventh, when Spencer Craig and Gibbs hit back-to-back singles to open the inning. Nick Bechard then popped out into foul territory for the first out, but a throwing error to second allowed Craig to come around with the go-ahead run.
That set up the final-inning rally for Saskatoon, beginning with back-to-back hits putting runners in scoring position. An error led to the tying run coming home and the winning run advancing to third; a sacrifice fly to centre brought home the winning run and gave the Cardinals the 4-3 win.
Scott finished the game 2-for-3 with his run scored, while Gibbs was 2-for-2 and also crossed the plate.
Kaison Skeoch gave the Canucks an outstanding start on the mound, allowing a single hit over 3 ⅓ innings of work, striking out four. Gibbs closed things out and allowed two earned runs on four hits.
The Canucks are back in action at 9 a.m. on Saturday when they take on the Saskatoon A’s before closing out the round robin at 2 p.m. against the Yorkton Cardinals.
The top team from each of the four round-robin pools advances to the semifinals on Sunday morning, with the gold medal game taking place at 2 p.m.
