The Yorkton Cardinals have been road warriors the last week, with an extended Western Major Baseball League swing through Alberta and Southern Saskatchewan.
And in the process the Cardinals got on a roll, and stayed on it.
With six straight wins and being 9-1 over their last 10-games, the Cardinals raised their record to 22-15 to sit five-games back of Swift Current and third spot in the East Division, and only half-a-game back of second place Regina.
Weyburn is fourth 9.5-games back of the Indians, with Moose Jaw 13-games back, and Melville 19.5-games back.
The extended road trip began in Edmonton last Tuesday, July 12, where the host Prospects scored two runs in each of the first three innings, then added a three spot in the fourth on their way to a 12-7 win.
Justin Johnson started on the mound for Yorkton, but lasted only three innings going up 11 hits, and eight runs, all of those earned to be tagged with the loss.
Yorkton then headed north to play Fort McMurray Wednesday. The Cardinals scored one in the top on the first inning, then added four in the third and two in the fourth on the way to a 7-2 win.
Gavin Collins was the starter, and winning pitcher based on 7.1 innings work where he allowed seven hits, giving up two runs, only one of those earned.
The Giants hosted the Cardinals again Thursday.
This time Luke Lucas went to the hill as the Yorkton starter. He would go the distance scattering six hits, and allowing only one earned run, while striking out 11.
The Cardinals would have a 14-hit night, including Luke Wilkinson hitting his fourth home run of the season.
Friday Yorkton was back in Edmonton to again face the Prospects, scoring a single run in the third, which would prove enough as the game was called because of rain after five innings. Daniel McFarland would have the game winning RBI.
Jamie Whitehead was the winning pitcher, having held the Prospects hitless through five innings of work.
It was further south into Alberta to face Okotoks Saturday.
Yorkton scored four in the top half of the first inning, having a five-run fourth on their way to an 11-3 win, again in a shortened five-inning game.
Wilkinson and Billy Clapperton both hit round-trippers for Yorkton.
Kody Rock, coming off Player-of-the-Week honours in the WMBL, was the Cardinal starter, allowing four hits, three runs, all of them earned, and striking out five, to pick up the win, his fifth of the season.
While a shortened outing it also marked Rock breaking a franchise record with four complete games surpassing Eric Nerl who had three in 2015.
Sunday the Cardinals were to again face off against the Dawgs, but the game was postponed to Monday afternoon due to field conditions.
The night off apparently did both offences some good as they combined for 31 hits, and were aided by a combined 18 walks in a contest both teams would score in the double digits, Yorkton finally prevailing 15-10 for their fifth straight win.
Gavin Collins, the Cardinal starter would last only 4.1 innings, but would still get the win, as he allowed seven hits, seven runs, all earned, six walks and struck out only one.
Designated hitter Hunter Hisky popped a home run, his third of the season. It was one of two hits for Hisky on the day, to go along with three RBIs and three runs.
Five Cardinals would drive in two or more runs against the Mavericks.
The work was not finished for the Cardinals Monday, as they then headed to Swift Current for their regularly scheduled meet-up with the WMBL’s East Division-leading Indians.
And the win ticker rolled up to six thanks to a three-run sixth inning by the Cardinals leading to a 4-3 win. The three runs coming via a pass ball, a wild pitch, and a single by Luke Wilkinson.
Justin Johnston was the Cardinal starter, going six innings, scattering nine hits, allowing three runs, all earned for the win.
Max Biedrzycki earned a three-inning save, allowing only two hits, and no runs in the effort.
The Cardinals had one game left on the road journey, a scheduled contest in Melville last night (Tuesday), but results were not available at press time.
Up next
The Cardinals are headed into the homestretch of the WMBL season.
Thursday Yorkton heads to Moose Jaw.
Saturday the Cardinals host Weyburn, with Swift Current here Sunday for an afternoon contest.
Tuesday, July 26, Regina visits Jubilee Park.
