The Yorkton Cardinals are back for another run at the Western Major Baseball League titles.
But things did not get off to a winning start for the local team as they dropped their opening game of the schedule 3-1 in a road contest Saturday in Melville.
The host Millionaires put up single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, while Yorkton finally broke the shut-out bid with one in the ninth.
The run was plated by lead-off hitter and shortstop Chance Wheatly.
Both teams had five hits.
Kody Rock, back for his third season with the Cardinals started on the hill and went 6.2 innings, allowing four hits, two runs and striking out six while not walking a batter, but took the loss.
Blake Welch allowed three hits, and no runs, striking out seven and walking a psir over eight innings for the Mills to earn the win.
Joe Hallock picked up the save as Melville鈥檚 second reliever of the ninth, going two-thirds of an inning without allowing a hit.
A night later the two teams were back at it, this time at Jubilee Park in Yorkton.
The Millionaires jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, and extended it to 4-0 by adding two in the third, all off Cardinal starter Derek Marshall, who gave up seven hits, and walked three.
Justin Johnson would go the rest of the way for Yorkton, allowing five hits in six innings of work, striking out three and walking two on his way to the win.
The Cardinals fashioned their first run on an over throw to third in the fifth. Garrett Fort walked, stole second, then swiped third, scoring on the throwing error by Melville catcher Braeden Allemann.
Fort also made a diving catch in the top on the ninth in centrefield to end the game with one Mill stranded in the bases.
In the seventh the Cardinals erupted for a five-spot, with only two hits, for an eventual 6-4 win. The Cards left the bases loaded in the inning as well.
Tyce O鈥橬eill took the loss for Melville based on a third or an inning of work in the seventh, as he gave up two hits, and four runs, all earned.
New Cardinal bench boss Bryn Biancalana who arrived in the city Sunday liked what he saw from a team still awaiting a number of players to arrive.
鈥淚t was very impressive,鈥� he said of the comeback win.
鈥淲e started slow but ground out some good at-bats early and got their starter out after six and got into their bullpen which is really what it鈥檚 about.鈥�
Biancalana who joins the Cardinals after previous league experience with Saskatoon and Edmonton in 2011 and 2012, was also happy with his pitching.
鈥淒erek Marshall did a very good job. He kept us in it and gave us a shot to win which we did,鈥� he said, adding that Johnson did yeoman service in long relief.
Johnson said he had not expected to toss six innings.
鈥淚 thought I might come in for a couple of innings,鈥� he said.
But once in the game Johnson found a groove and stayed in.
鈥淭he knuckleball was dancing pretty good. I love using my knuckleball,鈥� said the right hander from Calgary.
Johnson said it helps a pitcher to have a big field and good outfielders. While noting his outfield trio in general, he added the last out catch was special.
鈥淭hat lay-out play probably saved the game for us right there,鈥� he said.
Asked about a very short bench, 11 players Sunday, Biancalana admitted it 鈥渋s a challenge,鈥� but said the team really used it as a motivating factor to just get the job done.
In general terms the Cardinals were patient at the plate, managing to take a walk to score a run, something their coach said is not easily achieved.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a challenge for a hotter that鈥檚 for sure,鈥� he said noting hitters want to swing the bat to plater runners in such situations.
And they ran the bases, throwing up four stolen bases, three by Fort.
鈥淎nytime you can put pressure on a defence you want to. You want to make them make plays to beat you,鈥� said Biancalana.
Up next
The Cardinals host Swift Current for a pair of midweek games, Wednesday at 7:05 p.m., and then Thursday for a rare 11:30 a.m. start in a game with several hundred school students being bused in from across the local region for the game.
Yorkton heads to Weyburn to face the Beavers Friday and Saturday, then return home to host Lethbridge Tuesday.
