The Yorkton Cardinals hosted the second annual student day on Thursday, June 8. More than 700 students filled the bleachers around Jubilee Park to watch as the Cardinals played against the highway 10 rivals, the Melville Millionaires in an 11 a.m. matchup.聽
The students came from schools all around the region, including Saltcoats, Churchbridge, Esterhazy, as well as Yorkton schools Dr. Brass, Yorkdale Central School, St. Paul鈥檚, St. Alphonsus, and St. Mary鈥檚.
Not only was it an exciting day for the kids, but an exciting day for the Cardinals as they captured their first win of the 2017 season. They beat the Millionaires 4-0.聽
Runs came from Hank Forrest, Dondrei Hubbard and Caden Rosholt, while Jake Davidson had his first homer of the year.聽
The Cardinals鈥� winning pitcher was veteran Kody Rock from Canora. He lasted eight innings, had 16 strikeouts and 4.63 ERA.聽
After the game, Cardinals head coach Bryn Biancalana credited Rock for a great game.
鈥淲e had a great performance from Kody Rock and it鈥檚 what we鈥檝e come to expect out of him. He was back to his normal self today. Any time you get a pitching effort like that, you have a good chance,鈥� he said.聽
To no surprise, Biancalana was happy about getting that first win of the season.
鈥淚t feels good to get the monkey off of our back. We would have liked to get it a little earlier but it was good,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 like the way it鈥檚 coming along. We should be okay. I like our team, our lineup, our hitters are improving and I feel like we鈥檝e gotten better every game so far.鈥�
Rock was content with his performance during the game, with the exception of his fastball.聽
鈥淚 just had everything working tonight 鈥� well, kind of. My slider and curveball were really good,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 really locating my fastball like I鈥檇 like to but I guess today they had enough zip on them to get by them.鈥�
Rock said he鈥檚 expecting to see the Cardinals in the win column more regularly now that they have their first win under their belt.
鈥淚 think we have a good team here and I think it was just a matter of getting that first win. I think we鈥檒l be able to get a few more now that we got the first one out of the way.鈥�
Both Rock and Biancalana said having the students watching the game provided a great atmosphere.
鈥淏ill Sobkow had the idea, and it really got rolling last year,鈥� said Biancalana. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to have the kids out and the players really enjoy it, and any time you get more people out here it鈥檚 fantastic.鈥�
Rock said the kids really livened the park up.
鈥淚n some games, there鈥檚 not too many guys out here, and the kids make it a lot of fun and they鈥檙e loud and they鈥檙e cheering at everything and it鈥檚 just awesome to pitch in front of all of them,鈥� said Rock.聽
Other games
The following day the Cardinals faced the Millionaires again, and it was another win for the Cards, 13-9.聽
On Sunday, the Cardinals headed to Moose Jaw to face the Express, and fell 14-6.聽
Monday night was another highway 10 battle as the Cardinals played the Millionaires again at Pirie Field in Melville.聽
This time, the Millionaires took the W 10-4.
Yorkton player Parker Smejkal homered for the third consecutive game. In those games the third baseman has also picked up six hits and four RBI.
Local product Tyson Black made his second start of the season. He gave up eight runs on six hits. He also struck out five Melville batters in the loss.
This loss forced Yorkton鈥檚 record to drop to 2-7.
The next action for the Cardinals is on Wednesday, June 14 at Jubilee Park in Yorkton as they host the Swift Current 57s. The game will start at 7:05 p.m.
