The Canora Reds mosquito baseball team rode a productive offense to a doubleheader sweep against the Wadena Wildcats on July 8 in Canora, in the first game action for this team made up of players from Canora, Kamsack and Norquay.
The first game started with a bang, with the Reds hitting everything that the pitcher was throwing. Canora scored six runs in the first inning, two runs in the second and another six runs in the third. The hit of the game was produced by Bobby Taylor of Kamsack, No. 10 of the Reds, as he launched a double to the gap in left-centre field.
The defensive play of the game came in the third inning. The Wildcats had the bases loaded with one out. A ground ball was hit to the Reds third baseman Chase Hembling of Canora, No. 26, who fielded the ball, stepped on third base for the force out and then threw it home. Catcher Kealand Thomas of Kamsack, No. 15, caught the ball and applied a great tag to a sliding Wildcat player for an inning-ending double play.
The Reds continued to play well and came out on top in the first game with 19 to 10 win.
The second game started with some exceptional pitching from Ty Sleeva of Canora, No. 16 for the Reds, who was bringing the heat and throwing strikes. Sleeva was almost perfect in his two innings of work, only allowing one walk to the seven batters he faced.
The defensive play of the game was actually two plays made back-to-back, when Reds third baseman Tucker Mydonick of Canora, No. 17, had two ground balls that were hit to his left. He fielded both and threw the ball to first baseman Ty Sleeva for the outs. Sleeva made nice stretches at first on each play to complete the putouts.
The Reds ended up sweeping the doubleheader with a 14 to 3 victory in game two.
The team is coached by Jeremy Allard of Kamsack and Kent Hembling of Canora.
Canora was scheduled to play a pair of games in Wadena against the Wildcats and Prince Albert on July 15.
On July 20 the Reds will be in Watrous for the Provincial Mosquito Baseball Championship.
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