The Yorkton Cardinal’s Western Major Baseball League season came to an end Sunday at Jubilee Park in Yorkton.
The Cardinals dropped an 8-5 decision to Swift Current, which concluded a WMBL East Division final sweep by the Indians.
Yorkton took the early lead Sunday, with a run in the second, then added another in the third.
The lead evaporated when the Indians tied the game with a pair in the fifth.
The seventh inning would prove the turning point, as the Indians turned two walks, two Cardinal errors and a lone hit into five runs for a 7-2 lead.
The Cardinals clawed closer in the home-half of the seventh plating three to edge within two.
But Swift Current would add one in the eighth to round out an 8-5 win.
Justin Johnson started for Yorkton pitching five innings, scattering six hits, allowing two runs, both earned, striking out four and walking a pair.
Spencer Jackson took the loss on 1.2 innings work, giving up one hit, five runs, none of those earned, while walking three and striking out two.
Christian Marquez earned the win for the Indians, going six innings, allowing nine hits and five runs, all of those earned.
Ryan Pope tossed three innings for Swift Current for a save.
“We played really well,” said Cardinal coach Bryn Biancalana. “We got some base on balls. We found some holes.”
But in the seventh the Cardinals made too many mistakes which the Indians took advantage of.
“We had a few calls that didn’t go our way … some fringe calls behind the plate,” said Biancalana.
Biancalana said he was proud of the way the Cardinals responded in the bottom of the seventh.
“I loved the way we responded,” said Biancalana, who added it showed the team the Cardinals were, one that never gave up.
Game One
The Cardinals headed south to Swift Current Friday for a game which would be a pitcher’s duel.
Swift Current would score two runs in the third, add one in the seventh, and hold the Cardinals to two hits and no runs to win 3-0.
Jamie Whitehead started for Yorkton, going 4.1 innings. He gave up two hits, two runs, back-to-back home runs by Liam Goodall and Bodie Cooper, walked four and struck out one. He would be tagged with the loss.
Austin Douglas would finish the game on the mound for Yorkton. He allowed three hits, one earned run, while walking three and striking out three in 3.2 innings of work.
Luke Wiechec was the winning pitcher for the Indians. He allowed only one hit in eight innings of work, walking five, and striking out four.
Ryan Pope earned the save pitching the ninth. He allowed one hit, and struck out a pair.
Game two
Indians pitching again controlled the Cardinals Saturday.
Bobby St.Pierre started and went seven innings for Swift Current giving up only three hits, walking a pair and striking out four.
The Cardinals would manage only one more hit off a pair of Indians relievers.
While the Cards failed to plate a run, Swift Current scored one in the third, added four in the fourth, all off Cardinal starter Gavin Collins, although only one of the runs was earned. He walked three and struck out three.
The Indians tacked on a sixth in the sixth inning off Cardinal reliever Trevor Wallace for a 6-0 win.
“The first two games their pitchers pitched tremendous games,” said Biancalana.
It was a case where the Cardinals couldn’t get the key hit, the one to get out ahead, a position the teams plays better from, said their coach.
Next year
And now the Cardinals begin looking ahead to 2017.
“As of right now I’m planning on being back next year,” said Biancalana. “We made a good run at it this year and I feel there’s some unfinished business.”
The Cardinals would welcome back any player from this year’s team.
“I’ve had some indications some guys will be (back),” said Biancalana.
Biancalana said that this year’s team was “a talented club” that developed like ballplayers in summer leagues should, progressing as the season went along.
So what will it take to progress further in 2017?
“You need pitching,” offered Biancalana, noting two arms went home because of family issues and a third left to pursue what he felt was a better opportunity.
It was a decision addressed as the team met briefly after Sunday’s loss.
“There’s plenty of opportunity regardless,” said long-time manager Bill Sobkow, who suggested scouts will follow good players in any league.
“You play competitive baseball wherever you go,” he said, noting leagues such as the Northwoods League are not necessarily a better opportunity, adding the impression that it is a better league to be noticed “is not true.”
That all said Biancalana said in 2017, he will look to build a team with a few more arms.
