The Yorkton Cardinals had a busy opening week in Western Major Baseball League action. They have played four games at the time of print, but hold a 0-4 record.
At the first game of the season on June 1, the Cardinals held a moment of silence for their late longtime manager and head coach, Bill Sobkow. His family was present and his son threw the ceremonial first pitch.
The home/season opener was against the Regina Red Sox at Jubilee Park. The Red Sox took the win 7-1.
Adam Martin scored Yorkton鈥檚 one run, and Caden Rosholt had one RBI. Kody Rock was the losing pitcher. Rock pitched 3.2 innings and gave up six earned runs, putting his ERA at 14.73.
Cardinals鈥� head coach Bryn Biancalana said despite the loss, he wasn鈥檛 disappointed with everything his team brought to the field.
鈥淚 thought we did some good things and I thought we did some bad things,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e looked very lethargic which is to be expected for the first time out, but I liked some things I saw. Some good hitters, we have good athleticism, and I see our pitching being good in the long run. There were some positives.鈥�
He said what was missing from their game was a big hit once they got their players on base.
鈥淲e鈥檒l get that big hit later in the year. We鈥檙e a work in progress,鈥� said Biancalana.
One of the many players who impressed the head coach in their opening game was Jacob Womack, who stepped up to pitch 3.1 innings and had 2.7 runs against.
Womack spoke to Yorkton This Week and said a slow start isn鈥檛 surprising at the beginning of the season.
鈥淲e鈥檒l get into the swing of things and we鈥檒l do good. We鈥檙e a new team and getting together is going to be a big thing, it鈥檚 only going to get better from here,鈥� said Womack, who had only been in Yorkton for three days before the season opener.
He said the fact that many of the Cardinals have never played together does affect the way they play on the field. But Womack is confident that time together will help the Cardinals perform better on the field.
The second game of the season was on Saturday, June 3 at Jubilee Park. The Cardinals took on the Weyburn Beavers in a much closer game than their first. Still, they lost 11-8.
Things took off quickly, with Weyburn jumping out to a 8-5 lead after the first two innings. Yorkton slowly brought the score closer throughout the middle of the game. But in the top of the eighth, Weyburn pushed their score up to 11, where it would stay. Yorkton added one more run in the bottom of the eighth, bringing the score to the final 11-8.
Yorkton鈥檚 Justin Johnson took the loss on the mound.
Runs were scored by Walker McCleney (2), Hank Forrest (2), Jake Davidson, Parker Smejkal, Dondrei Hubbard and Chance Wheatley. Wheatley led the team with two RBI.
After the second game, Biancalana was happy with the effort put forth by his team.
鈥淚 liked a lot of things we did. Our at-bats were better, we were aggressive on the bases, we ran the bases well, I鈥檓 actually very pleased,鈥� said Biancalana.
鈥淥ur pitching just hasn鈥檛 really been there, but I know it鈥檚 going to come along. There are some encouraging signs to take from tonight.鈥�
He said that pitching will come with time as the coaching staff works through their philosophy with the players.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got some nice arms and some good talent,鈥� he added.
Biancalana has taken a positive message from the struggle the Cardinals have faced early in the season.
鈥淎nytime you can face a little adversity early, it makes you a little bit better late,鈥� he said.
On Sunday, the Cards hit the road to face the Regina Red Sox again. This contest was much closer than the first time the teams met on opening day.
The Cards took the loss 12-9 after a close game.
After five innings, Regina led the game 5-0. But the Cardinals came back and after seven innings, the game was tied 9-9. The Red Sox were able to add three more runs before the game ended, securing them the win.
On Monday night, the Cardinals hosted the undefeated Swift Current 57鈥檚 at Jubilee Park. It looked like it would be another close game, but in the final two innings the 57鈥檚 put in the final push to take the game 13-5.
Swift Current hammered out 17 hits from eight different players including a home run.
Dondrei Hubbard had a great game for the Cardinals, with the first homerun of the season for the team. He also scored two runs and had two RBI.
Wheatley scored two runs, and Caden Rosholt scored one for the team.
DJ Depiero took the loss for Yorkton.
The Cardinals鈥� next game action will be on Wednesday, June 7 at Jubilee Park where they鈥檒l host the Weyburn Beavers again in hopes of finding their first victory of the season.
On Thursday, the Cardinals will change up their usual evening game-time with a morning game against the聽 Melville Millionaires. The game will begin at 11:05 a.m. at Jubilee Park. They鈥檒l then spend the following week on the road to Melville and Moose Jaw, and return to Jubilee Park on June 14.
