The Midget AAA R. Miller's Yorkton Cardinals headed south of the border to take part in a Can-Am baseball tournament in Williston, North Dakota.
Yorkton played in four games and posted an even record of 2-2. Yorkton beat Wolfpoint 8-7 before falling to both Humboldt and Williston by scores of 8-3 and 8-7. They ended up playing for the 'C' side title against Crosby, ND.
Humboldt ended up playing Medicine Hat in an all-Canadian final in North Dakota, said Dallas Swan, manager of the Yorkton Cardinals.
Wolfpoint were the tournament's defending champions in what is a metal-bat tournament.
"The Canadian teams were far superior," says Swan "But Bismarck also has a pretty good club."
Swan said the steel bat makes a huge difference as the ball comes off the bat a lot faster. It also gives the outfielder a lot more to worry about because their reaction time has to be much faster.
"It's definitely more of a problem for them," says Swan.
When it comes to the competition in the United States, Swan said that usually the Americans are far better athletes who usually get in more playing time and, almost as important, more practice time, said Swan, and the fellow Canadian from Medicine Hat and Humboldt actually showed where they stand on the depth list compared to the Americans, and once they all get together, there is pride on the line, he points out."It's competition. You want to compete. It's not just a fun trip. Williston is very competitive."
Swan said it's good for young players to be able to make regular trips to the USA and see what their level of skill's like. It's a good experience even though the winning is like an added bonus.
Usually everybody's pitching at the Can-Am just skyrockets. Last year, Yorkton's Cardinals were looking perfect heading into the championship game. In that final, they ran into what they said was the best pitcher they had ever seen in any competition and eventually lost to that team.
This year was a different story, according to Swan.
"I was a little surprised there was no dominant pitching."
He did say he was glad to see everybody on the Cardinals contributing and the kids had a great time, which included staying in a "good hotel."
