UNITY — Unity Minor Ball hosted another outstanding provincial championship July 14, 15 and 16, with a large roster of volunteers scorekeeping, counting pitches, announcing games and keeping the diamonds in tip-top shape. The 15U Cardinals did their part to keep the fans on the edge of their seats, winning a tight semifinal to make it to the 15U AA Tier 1 championship game and, ultimately, silver medals.
The hometown team roared through the round robin, winning every game: 9-1 against the Saskatoon A’s, 15-5 against the Saskatoon Blue Jay Dirt Bags and 21-10 against the Lumsden Cubs.
Playoffs started the morning of July 16 and the Cardinals, first in their round robin pool, met the second place team from the other pool, the Maidstone Lakers.
Maidstone put up three runs in the top of the first and another two in the second to lead the game 5-0. Shut down in the first inning, Unity rebounded in the second to match the Lakers, tying up at the game at 5-all.
Innings three, four and five saw excellent pitching from both teams, including eight strike-outs by Cardinal Connor Ralston, matched by eight on the other side by Laker Myles Mosimann.
In the bottom of the sixth, Daxon L’Heureux hit to get on base and Connor had the RBI to bring him home to put the Cardinals one run ahead.
Putting out the first three batters up for the Lakers in the top of the seventh, last bats were not needed and with the 6-5 win, the Cardinals advanced to the gold medal game.
In the final against the Lumsden Cubs, Unity took an early 1-0 lead with a home run by Kaden Sperle in the bottom of the second, but Lumsden retaliated by scoring four runs in the top of the third and never looked back, leading the game the rest of the way to a final score of 11-7.
The 15U Cardinals are managed by Brayden Blanchette and coached by Regan L’Heureux, Dan Feser, Mark Ralston and Aaron Sittler. The provincial team roster was comprised of Cruz Sittler, Heath Trayhorne, Ethan Keller, Austin Sittler, Dominic Sieben, Connor Ralston, Rowan May, Dane Rewerts, Jaden Blanchette, Daxon L’Heureux, Kellen Headrick, Kaden Sperle and Emerson Cey.
