The Under-12 A Ice rolled to a 12-5 victory over the Regina Lazers in their semifinal on Wednesday, while the Under-14 Ice were equally as dominant in taking a 13-6 win over the Regina Royals.
Both squads will need to be just as sharp in the championship games. The U12 squad -- who finished the regular season with a 12-2-1 record and in first place -- will take on the 13-3 Lumsden Cubs, while the U14 A Ice – owners of first place with an 11-1-1 record – will do battle with the Regina Lazers, who finished 11-2 and solidly in second place.
In previous meetings between the two finalists, the U14s faced the Lazers in a doubleheader on July 10 and won the opening game 7-4 before falling 11-6, while the U12s lost both ends of a doubleheader 6-0 and 15-10 in Lumsden to open the season on July 11 before rebounding with 13-5 and 13-12 wins back home at Optimist Park on July 26.
U12 Ice 12, Lazers 5
The Ice fell behind 3-2 in the top of the third but, as they have been all season, were quick to respond: five runs in their half of the inning would put Moose Jaw up by four. Regina would get one back in the fourth, but another maximum five-run outburst in the fifth would put things away for the Ice
The top of the order had a solid game for the local squad, led by three-hole hitter Marisa Montgomery who put together a 3-for-3 night and finished a home run away from hitting for the cycle while scoring two runs and knocking in three.
Lead-off hitter Blake Maltais was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, Taya Molde hit second and crossed the plate twice, clean-up hitter Zoey Chesney would finish with a run scored and three RBI. Rachel Ward also had a solid game, going 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.
Kensington Demassi got the start on the rubber and allowed a run on a hit while striking out four; Montgomery surrendered three runs – none earned – while striking out the side in each of her two innings. Kiarra Adrian closed things out, allowing a run on a hit and fanning a pair.
Scoring information wasn’t immediately available for the U14 semifinal.
