UNITY — The Cardinal carousel continues in Unity baseball. After a few seasons with the Unity junior Cardinals providing some exciting baseball moments and the senior Cardinals on hiatus for two years, the juniors have folded, and the senior team will be back in action.
“We lost seven guys from last year (five non-returnees, two jumped to senior) and only one graduating 18U player showed interest.” former junior Cardinals coach Dan Feser says.
“It was a great run. When we started it, we had a three-year plan with the hopes it continued and became a staple. Maybe next year, under new leadership.”
Feser affirms there will be a senior Cardinals team this year and feels it will be a strong roster.
Cory Wildeman, player/manager of the 2023 senior Cardinals, formerly added pitching strength to the Wilkie Brewers while the Cards were on a break.
The roster this year includes: Braden Polreis – player-coach; Alex David; Tanner Huber; and Brandon Griffiths. There will be three brother duos on the roster Ethan and Garin Scherr, Hunter and Luke Sperle and Tommy and Andrew Feser. The roster is rounded off with Denim O’Donnell, Colby Ralston, Brayden Schultz, Skyler Mackie, Rob Cey, Blaise Weber, Adam Duhaime and Colby Frocklage.
Wildeman says Graeme Gieni and Mitch Cooper will be bullpen catchers.
“It will be a much-needed injection of youth onto the roster. With all the guys and a healthy surplus of pitching arms we should be able to contend for both a league and provincial title,” adds Wildeman.
The club is hosting a slo-pitch tournament as a fundraiser for diamond renovations. Wildeman says there has been discussion about proposed changes, but nothing is set in stone yet and they hope to have more details put together around the beginning of June.
“The boys are happy to be back and look forward to seeing all the fans return to the diamonds. Season starts around May long weekend.”
Retirement was not in the ‘cards’ for former junior men’s Cardinals coach, Dan Feser however as he says, “I was hoping to take a summer off, but I am doing some things for Baseball Sask. and the 15Us need some help with a considerable number of players."
