With rain across much of the province, action in the Western Major Baseball League was sporadic in the past week.
The rain-outs included a home field contest scheduled for Jubilee Park Saturday.
The Cards did meet their arch rival Mills Monday at Pirie Field in Melville.
The Cardinals scored the first run in the game in the second inning and rolled through the first four innings.
But the fifth proved Yorkton's undoing as the Millionaires plated seven and then cruised to a 9-2 win.
In spite of giving up nine runs, only three of those were earned as Cardinal pitchers allowed only nine hits and were plagued by five errors on the night. Max Chadsey started the game for Yorkton and took the loss giving up six of the runs, only one earned, and allowing four hits through 4.1 innings. Melville starter Parker Thomas had the win.
"It was the same old story, if you can't field and you can't hit the other team will beat you every time," offered Cardinal manager Bill Sobkow.
In terms of fielding Sobkow said a couple of errors in the seven run fifth were the difference. He said had they managed to get the lead runner and not throw the ball away at a key juncture, it could have been a different outcome.
"We had to get the lead runner," he lamented.
The Cardinals were scheduled to play a doubleheader in Weyburn Wednesday, with the games postponed until Thursday due to rain. When the games were held the Cardinals would manage a split. In the opener, Yorkton put up three in the third and added two in the fifth on their way to a 5-0 seven-inning-win.
The Cardinals had a 13-hit night, while also benefiting from four Beaver errors and three walks.
On the mound it was all Travis Donahoo. He went the distance for Yorkton allowing only three hits and striking out four.
"It was very good pitching," said Sobkow.
The second half of the doubleheader was more offensive, with the teams combined for 17 runs.
The teams traded first inning runs, but a four-run third gave the hometown Beavers a lead they would not relinquish.
Yorkton plated a pair in the fourth, but Weyburn responded with five in their half of the inning.
Yorkton put one over in the sixth, but again Weyburn responded, this time with a pair.
The Cardinals would get a lone seventh inning run to complete the scoring 12-5.
The Cardinals went through four pitchers in six innings, combining to allow 16 hits -- three of those home runs -- while allowing the dozen runs, all of them earned. Starter Logan Hershenow lasted three, giving up five runs, and being tagged with the loss.
Sobkow said the Cardinal pitching actually was not that bad in the second game.
"They (the Beavers) hit the ball really well. They hit the ball hard," he said.
The lone win on the week leaves the Cardinals in the WMBL East Division basement with a 2-and-5 record four games back of front running Regina.
Melville is second in the division 2.5 games off the lead, while Weyburn sits 3.5 games off the pace.
Sobkow said the Cardinals have to turn things around quickly.
"We have to take it into our own hands and play better," he said, adding "We have a highly skilled baseball team."
The key is recognizing the WMBL is a tough league and the east division is a highly competitive one, so players must rise to the challenge.
The Cardinals will have a chance to turn things around at home, with six of their next seven scheduled for Jubilee Park.
The Cardinals were to host Moose Jaw last night (Tuesday), but results were too late for press time.
Tonight (Wednesday) Regina rolls into the city.
Friday Yorkton returns to Melville to face the Millionaires, then host Weyburn in doubleheader action Saturday.
Next Monday and Tuesday Edmonton is at Jubilee Park.
