The struggles continue for the Yorkton Cardinals of the Western Major Baseball League.
The local teamis 1-9 over their last 10 games and are now 15-games out of top spot in the WMBL East Division.
The Cardinals are also four-games back of Weyburn for the final playoff spot, as Yorkton remains in the division basement.
Melville sits second 6.5-games back of Regina.
The Cardinals latest loss was Monday night, a 9-4 decision to Saskatoon at Jubilee Park in Yorkton.
The Cardinals did jump out to a 2-0 lead, including a home run by Andrew Tindell in the second inning. It was the first home field home run by a Cardinal since 2009.
Tindell said he had not expected the ball to go out.
"I just swung, and I didn't think it was going out," he said. "I just thought it was pretty deep, and I was running."
For Tindell, who also had a double, and scored two runs, it was a sort of break out night in a season which has been a struggle.
"It feels really good to get a couple of hits. It was good to string together six bases," he said.
So why the better night?
"I was seeing the ball a little better, and it just happened," he said.
Cardinal manager Bill Sobkow said once again the team was plagued by an inability to get key hits as they left 10-men on-base in the loss.
For Sobkow the frustration was obvious.
"It's getting pretty boring getting one win every 12-15 games," he said, adding the team is struggling to hit, and even the team's best hitters missed opportunities againMonday.
As it stands the Cardinals have been painted into a corner in the sense hitters with averages under .100 are still playing as they scramble to try to make the playoffs.
"We don't have anybody else to put into those situations," said Sobkow, adding about half the team is hitting under .200. " We can't option them out to Pawtucket, or Ogden and bring in a new crew."
On Saturday, the Cardinals were in Regina against the league's best team, and while Yorkton kept the score close most of the way, the Red Sox still managed a win.
The game was actually only 3-1 Regina through seven, but the Sox added three runs in their half of the eighth to complete a 6-1 win, behind the complete game pitching of Denver Wynn.
On Friday, the Cardinals were in Moose Jaw and held a 1-0 lead before rain suspended the game.
On Thursday, Yorkton traveled to Weyburn for a critical contest with playoff implications for the bottom two teams in the East Division.
The Beavers showed they will not be easily caught for the final playoff spot, taking a 2-0 lead in the third inning, and rolling to a 7-0 win.
Taylor Wright three-hit Yorkton for a complete game shut-out, while striking out six.
The Cardinals did manage a big win last Wednesday going into Regina and defeating the Red Sox 4-3.
Jamie Whitehead had the win for Yorkton going five innings as the starter scattering eight hits, and allowing only two runs, both of those earned.
Gabe Cook had the save with four innings of relief.
Andrew Tindell had two hits and an RBI for Yorkton on offence.
Up next
The Cardinals host Melville tonight (Wednesday) at Jubilee Park, then hit the road for action in Weyburn Thursday, Melville Friday and Regina Sunday, before returning to the city to host Swift Current Monday and Tuesday.
