South East Senior Baseball League action made one of its few appearances at Yorkton's Jubilee Park going into the Canada Day holiday and Yorkton was able to take two of a possible two wins against their Canora Supers opponents.
It was a good way to kick off the long weekend too.
The skies got darker as the night wore on but somehow held dry long enough for the combatants in last year's league finals to finish off their doubleheader at Jubilee Park June 30.
Dane Kobylko got the start in the opener while native of St. Lazare, MB., Matt Totte was given the task in game two.
Much to the delight of the Cardinals' bullpen both went all the way and both delivered the wins.
Gary Lamb, co-coach of the Cardinals, told the paper they were a little short on the bench going into the night and he was hoping that they could play both games on two arms.
They did that alright, and a little more.
Kobylko pitched a 5-1 win while Totte won 6-2.
"We were hoping to get seven innings out of both pitchers tonight," he said around 10:45 p.m., following the birds' second straight victory.
"It's just good to get some playing time in too," he adding, talking about the return to a somewhat normal playing schedule after the team has had upwards of 10 games in both the junior and senior leagues get called or cancelled due to inclement weather.
Kobylko, who has also seen some playing time over the spring with the Western Major Baseball League Yorkton Cardinals, went the full game, facing 32 Canora hitters, gave up the lone run, walked four and struck out five.
Lamb said he was happy with what he saw.
"We also want to get our 11-man unit going," he said, adding that it's not always possible as games get cancelled and players can't always make games due to work schedules.
"We (also) got the breaks when we needed them," he pointed out, referring to a play back in the first game that saw Kobylko pick off a runner at second base.
Had the baserunner been safe, it would have put a Canora runner in scoring position with the game even at 1-1.
Kobylko is one of a couple Cardinal players that has seen some playing time with the WMBL. Coach Lamb said that the added playing time has shown in his ability.
"I think it helps," suggests Lamb, sounding like a science professor about to explain his theory. "Last night he was there (vs Weyburn)."
In the second game, Yorkton went with Totte who was down in Minnesota working on his various pitches over the winter months.
Lamb said the extra experience has shown through in him, too.
"He's a big strong boy," explains Lamb. "I definitely think he's stronger then he was last year."
He went all seven innings for his first complete game of the year, faced 31 Canora batters, gave up four hits and both runs. He also threw eight strikeouts.
The wins came against a Canora team that nearly made a two-game comeback in the league championship match last summer. Yorkton won the opener, but Canora came back with two straight wins.
This wasn't a team that Lamb expected anyone would take lightly.
"They still have a pretty good ball team. You're always a little leary playing against them. The redbirds were slated to make the trip to Willowbrook where they were hoping to celebrate the nation's birthday with a third straight win.
However Mother Nature had other plans and the game was postponed due to weather.
This week, Yorkton resumes its busy schedule. Tonight they take on Parkland at Jubilee Park diamond one at 8 p.m.
On July 8, the Cardinals make a visit to Willowbrook where they take on the Royals at 6:15 p.m. They close out the week playing the Raymore Renegades in another Jubilee Park doubleheader.
Action opens up at 1 p.m., with game two to commence shortly upon completion.
Through all completed games Yorkton has played in all season long, their loss count is only five. Two of those losses have come against SESBL teams and the rest came in Junior league games.
