Every team that plays in a major championship and falls short of the title is left wondering what could have been.
The Moose Jaw Ice took that to another level at the Softball Canada U15 AA national championship this past week in Brandon
After splitting their first two games, the Ice took a 7-4 win over Equipe du Quebec in their opening outing Friday, but then ran into tough times, losing their next two contests in walk-off fashion -- first falling 5-4 to the host Westman Magic and then dropping a 9-8 extra-inning decision to the Cloverdale Fury out of B.C.
That dropped the Ice to fourth place in their pool and a spot in the fourth-fifth place consolation round, where they’d lose their first game 5-2 to the St. Albert Angels to bring their tournament to an end.
There was some good news for the local crew, though -- third baseman Gracelyn Blanchard was named the tournament’s top infielder at the awards ceremony on Saturday afternoon.
Moose Jaw 7, Quebec 4
The Ice used steady and regular offence to get the job done in their third round robin game, scoring runs in each of the first and second innings before a three spot made it 5-2 through three. They’d lead 7-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh, where they’d give up a pair of runs -- a harbinger of what was to come later in the day.
Charlize Hillmer was 2-for-2 with two runs scored, while Davi Clarke was 2-for-4 and also crossed the plate twice, as did Taryn Friesen.
Avery Garthus had a solid game, allowing two runs on four hits in 6 ⅓. Chloe Giraudier finished the game off, allowing two runs off a walk and hit.
Westman 5, Moose Jaw 4
The Ice looked to be in good shape leading 4-1 after the top of the sixth inning, but Westman scored a pair in the bottom of the frame to get within one and then finished things off in the bottom of the seventh/.
It was a tough one for Garthus, as after back-to-back singles and a dropped third strike loaded the bases, the Magic would work a walk to bring home the winning run.
No Ice batter had more than a single hit, with Kensington Demassi finishing 1-for-2 with a run and two runs batted in.
Friesen started the game and went six strong, allowing three runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out seven.
Cloverdale 9, Moose Jaw 8
The fact the game against the fourth-ranked B.C. representatives went as deep as it did was a product of a nifty comeback by the Ice, as a six-run second inning saw Moose Jaw trailing 7-2 through two.
They’d get three back in the third, though, and then found a way to tie the game in the seventh when Blanchard doubled home Tara Bell and then scored herself when Clarke hit a two-out double.
The extra-inning didn’t go Moose Jaw’s way, though, as despite picking up one in the top of the eighth, Cloverdale would get back-to-back base hits and would take the one-run win.
Blanchard had an outstanding game offensively, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, two runs scored and five RBI. Bell was perfect at the plate with a 4-for-4 showing that included two doubles and three runs scored and Clarke was 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Clarke started the game and was bit by an untimely error that led to six of the seven runs she allowed over two innings being unearned. She’d give up nine hits and strike out a pair. Demassi was solid in relief, giving up a single run while scattering seven hits over five innings, but was unable to finish things off in the eighth.
St. Albert 5, Moose Jaw 3
A pair of St. Albert pitchers held Moose Jaw to a pair of runs on five hits in their fourth-fifth place consolation round game.
No Moose Jaw batter had more than a single hit, with Blake Maltais and Friesen scoring their only runs on hits by Bell and Clarke.
Friesen started the game and allowed five runs, four earned on eight hits while striking out three in three innings; Garthus finished things off in style, holding St. Albert to only two hits over the final three innings.
