聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 For the first time in recent memory, Canora has hosted minor baseball playoffs.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Parkland Minor Baseball League mosquito playoff tournament on June 24 involved 10 teams, including three teams from Canora, said Michelle Hembling, vice-president of Canora Minor Baseball.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Other teams taking part were from Kamsack, Preeceville, Saltcoats, Sturgis, Melville, and two teams from Yorkton. Each team was guaranteed at least two games.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Canora Red team was coached by Chelsea Rock, in place of regular coach Kelly MacTavish, who was unable to attend. The team lost by a score of 18-17 to Melville, and then lost its second game of the day, 7-4 to the Yorkton No.2 team. Rock said she thoroughly enjoyed her experience with the team.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t was a great way to end the season playing against great teams,鈥� said Rock. 鈥淲e would like to express our appreciation to everyone who came out and supported minor ball. We really value our coach Kelly MacTavish and all parents who helped through the season, as well as the players for making this season very enjoyable.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Canora White team, coached by Greg Smith, won two of three games during the day. The first game was a 14-11 win over Kamsack, followed by a tight 14-13 victory over Preeceville. That win qualified Canora White for a spot in the all-Canora A-side semi-final game, but Canora Black came out on top by a score of 12-6.聽
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Greg Smith said he was pleased with the performance of his team throughout the busy day.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 was very proud of the way our kids played, as we exceeded many peoples鈥� expectations. Due to pitch count limits we challenged players to fill the role of pitcher who had never done it before,鈥� said Smith.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The team was missing Rylan and Colton Bletsky and Cooper Kraynick from its regular lineup, said Smith. Ayden Lukey and Keegan Dyck from Norquay joined Canora White for the day, and played very well. Smith said his team seemed to excel in tightly contested games.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淥ur team never gave up, as you can tell from the close scores. The kids were very excited with their success. We had good pitching, fielding, and batting all day despite the poor weather. I was proud of every player on the field.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Canora Black team was north division champion for the regular season, with a record of eight wins and two losses. The team was coached by Graham Lamb, with help from assistant coach Jennifer Sleeva. In addition to the 12-6 victory over Canora White, Canora Black defeated Saltcoats 9-1 in its first tournament game.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In the A-side final, Canora Black lost by a score of 4-0 to Melville, the tournament champion, in a well played game, said Lamb. Making it to the final game was a true team effort.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淧itchers for the day were Hunter Lamb, Ty Sleeva, Chase Hembling, and Cody Vangen,鈥� said Lamb. 鈥淭hey pitched very well. Due to a shortage of players, the team was very thankful to have Carson Ebert from Norquay as a catcher for the day.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 All in all, Lamb said he was very happy with the team and the success it had both in the regular season and the playoffs.聽
