Moose Jaw opened with a 4-1 win over the Regina Red Dogs on Friday afternoon but dropped a 15-6 decision to the Birsay Brewers in their second round robin game and were eliminated after taking a 16-3 defeat on Saturday afternoon.
With the top two teams in Pool A advancing to the semifinal on Sunday, the 1-2 record knocked the Athletics from contention.
Tournament action continues all day Sunday, with the semifinal at 10 a.m. and championship final taking place at 5:30 p.m.. All games are at Ross Wells Park.
Brewers 15, Athletics 6
Things were close in the early going on Friday night, as the two teams were tied 3-3 after two innings and the Brewers led 6-4 through three.
That all changed the next inning, though as five of the first six Birsay baserunners reached, leading to a six-run outbreak and a 12-4 lead. The Brewers tacked on three more runs in the fifth inning to close out the contest.
Dustin Miller reached base twice for Moose Jaw and scored a pair of runs, while Dan Glasser, Adam Pasquet and Mike Tyhy scored their other runs. Curt Novak reached scoring position twice but was unable to bring home a run.
Rhinos 16, Athletics 3
Moose Jaw trailed 4-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth when a three-run inning got the Athletics back to within one, but things came apart the very next inning.
A five-run frame posted Saskatoon to a 9-3 lead and they’d tack on seven more in the sixth. Former Moose Jaw Cardinals Midget AAA standout Brandon Loveridge hit a two-run home run for Saskatoon to key the big inning.
The Rhinos had a second Moose Jaw connection as former Warriors forward and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Blair Jones pitched the final two innings for Saskatoon.
Tyhy, Jim Howe and Gregg Happ scored Moose Jaw’s runs; Novak was again stranded twice after reaching scoring position. Glasser also reached in both trips to the plate.
