Heading into the last week of the Western Major Baseball League the Yorkton Cardinals are in a dogfight to determine their final playoff position.
The Cardinals hold a record of 20-25 and currently sit third in the league’s Saskatchewan Division, one game back of second place Regina and one game up on fourth place Melville. However, both the Red Sox and Millionaires have played two less games than Yorkton.
Weyburn sits atop the Division seven games up on Regina.
Moose Jaw is 10.5 off the pace and Swift Current 12.5.
Hosting the Mavericks
The Medicine Hat Mavericks rolled into Jubilee Field for a pair of games last week, starting with an extended encounter Thursday.
The Mavericks scored first with a run in the third, but Yorkton replied with one in the fourth to tie the game, then added one in the fifth for lead.
The game fell into a tie again as Medicine Hat played an eighth inning run, pushing the game into extra innings.
The Mavericks finally broke through with five in the 14th, and while Yorkton did manage to get two back in the home half of the frame the visitors would take a 7-4 win.
Jamie Whitehead started for Yorkton, going 7.1, and allowing five hits and two runs, only one of those earned, but was long gone by the time Aaron Dick was tagged with the loss after 4.1 innings of relief work. He allowed only two hits, walking a pair, and giving up four earned runs.
A night later Eric Nerl would toe the rubber for the Cardinals against the same Mavs. He would scatter four hits, and only one run in eight innings of work for his sixth win of the season, a Yorkton team record (see related story this issue).
Aidan Goodall would get the save as the Cards won 4-1.
In Swift Current
The Cardinals headed to Swift Current for a pair of weekend games.
Rodney McKay had the start for Yorkton Saturday, going 6.2 innings, giving up four earned runs, and earning the win.
But it was not easy. Yorkton led 7-3 after six innings, only to see the Indians score one in the seventh and two in the ninth to make it 7-6.
Aaron Dick earned a save with one inning of work.
Riley MacDonald had a pair of RBIs for the Cards.
Sunday it would be the Indians with a 3-1 lead heading into the ninth, only to have Yorkton score two to tie the game.
But the home team would score one in the 11th off reliever Kody Rock for a 4-3 win.
Codie Scanlon had started the game for Yorkton throwing eight, allowing nine hits, and three runs, only two of those earned.
John Whaley had a pair of Yorkton RBIs.
Up next
The Cardinals host Moose Jaw tonight (Wednesday) at Jubilee Park.
Thursday Yorkton is scheduled to travel to Regina, and will then wrap up their regular season hosting the same Red Sox Friday.
