Softball Saskatchewan announced Wednesday that due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic all provincial championship tournaments in the province had been cancelled, citing the risk of gathering so many teams in a single area for each event.
That was especially tough for the two teams in action on Tuesday, as both squads had a nifty little campaign going and would have been serious contenders for their respective provincial crowns.
As it stands, the U12 A Ice rolled to a mercy-rule 16-1 win over the Regina Royals and the U12 B Ice battled to an 18-12 win over the Regina Lazers White.
The U12 B Ice are right back in action on Friday when they host the Humboldt Thunder for the doubleheader, while the U12 A Ice take on travel to Regina to face the Royals on Aug. 11.
U12 A Ice 16, Royals 1
After a scoreless first inning, the Ice would score the maximum five runs in the next three frames, rolling to a 15-1 lead through four.
They only needed six hits to do all that damage, too, as they would walk a total of 15 times on the night.
Every player in the Ice line-up scored at least one run, with Tara Bell crossing the plate three times. Kyra Menzies was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI, while Kiarra Adrian also scored a pair of runs.
Marisa Montgomery got the start on the mound and pitched two near-flawless innings, striking out six and walking a pair. Adrian allowed a single run and struck out four in the next two frames before Kensington Demassi and Avery Garthus closed things out with a scoreless inning each.
U12 B Ice 18, Lazers 12
The Ice built a 13-5 lead before Regina made a bit of a comeback, but in the end the local squad would score max runs in three of the five innings and take the comfortable win.
And this time, they did it with their bats as much as their plate discipline.
The Ice cranked out 15 hits on top of walking 11 times, with Sophia Johnstone doing the majority of damage with a 2-for-3 night that included three runs scored and four RBI. Avery Funke had a 3-for-3 showing and crossed the plate twice, while Tessa Hardwicke was 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Chloe Giraudier and Kayla Chartier also scored three runs each, with every Ice player having at lead one run scored and all but one at least a single hit.
Funke got things off to a solid start in the circle, tossing two innings and striking out five without allowing a run, while Hardwicke, Aurora Wingenbach and Joelle Boechler combined to pitch the final three innings.
