The Alexander Mens Wear Junior Cardinals are back for another season, and with the possibility there of an exhibition game this weekend at Jubilee Park, head coach Brian Trollope said the team is ready to go.
They will dress at least five new players this year and Trollope said they will be ready to play this weekend at home, however he said late Monday evening that they are still awaiting confirmation from the opponents, based out of western Manitoba, Trollope said.
If the game is played, it will likely be a doubleheader. If the game does not go ahead, Yorkton's home opener in the Optimist Junior league is slated for the opening weekend of June.
Trollope said the Cardinals will play a total of five games that weekend, weather permitting. On the Saturday (June 4), they will roll out the welcome mats for the Southey Eagles. Game times are 1 and 3 p.m., in Yorkton.
The following day (June 5), it's Yorkton and the Raymore Renegades, with game times also at 1 and 3 p.m. Yorkton is also scheduled to play a senior league game on the Friday night against the Yorkton Yankees. Start time will be 8 p.m. Trollope said he expects to have another good team, solid in both pitching and catching, but said he's also waiting on players to return home from university.
The team has been able to hold one practice as of the paper's press time and are hoping to hold another tonight, weather permitting.
All in all, he said he can't help but admire what he's seen even from the lone practice they've held going into tonight's practice.
"Strong pitching, good catching. I don't see a weakness."
Yorkton has two catchers who can be called on at any given time: Travis Nesbitt and Dalane Lamb.
Additional information on the Junior Cardinals can be found at the following web site: http://www.ballcharts.com/teams/calendar.php?month=June&year=2011&team=YorktonJrCardinals&printable=&Submit=Go.
