A big four-run inning turned out to be a good start to a good game and a good weekend as the Alexander's Mens Wear Junior Cardinals went 2-0 in Regina Optimist League action over the weekend. The Yorkton Juniors played a doubleheader with the Southey Juniors and cruised to wins of 6-2 and 12-1.
In first of two games, the Cardinals spread out six runs scored over the first four innings.
They led 4-0 after one and 5-0 after two.
Southey dented the shutout bid late in the game but fell 6-2 in the end.
They also recorded four stolen bases and 10 different players all recorded hits.
Logan Calanchie and Justin Stupak led with two runs scored each and Ross Stilborn had one. Three Yorkton pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts.
"We got a good start out of Logan," says Cardinal co-coach Brian Boechler.
"He pitched well."
As it turned out, Yorkton had enough of a lead following the first inning, while game two wasn't enough close, Boechler said it's important that all games be approached the same way, regardless of how big a lead happens to get.
The Cardinals jumped out to a 8-0 lead and only gave up one run, going on to a 12-1 win off of eight hits.
"We approach all games the same wayas many reps for all the game," he said referring to getting all players equal playing time.
It's an "opportunity to develop," he added.
In the rematch, played immediately following the Yorkton's 6-2 win, the Cardinals had two innings in which they crossed the plate four times.
They took a four-run lead in the second after the teams went scoreless in the first.
Yorkton added two more in the third to make it 6-0 and never looked back. Southey got one back in the third but could not get anything else going as Yorkton coasted to a 12-1 win.
Stilborn had two hits, one was a double and Dalane Lamb had a triple.
Pitcher Kent Larsen recorded the win on the mound, allowing one hit and no runs scored.
NEXT GAME
The Junior Cardinals next play a road game in Willowbrook on Friday night (June 10) and host the Regina Red Sox in a doubleheader on Sunday against the Regina Red Sox beginning at 1 p.m.
