There’s usually an adjustment for a first year team when they join a league.
So far, the Battlefords Trappers are proving to be an exception to that rule.
Following a doubleheader at Beaver Lions Stadium in North Battleford Tuesday, the Trappers have a 2-1 record to lead the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League’s Albers Division and have the second most runs of any team in the league with 30.
“With a new team there’s going to be ups and downs, but so far we’ve done pretty well,” Brett Benoit said.
“Our offence is really booming right now and as we get more and more comfortable as a group, I think you’ll see all of the aspects of our game come together.”
The Trappers roster features a nice mix of NSRBL veterans and a group of eight players who have moved up from the North Battleford Midget AA Beavers team that won a provincial title last year.
“The idea actually came from Dillon Friesen,” Trappers coach Michael Hudec said. “He was interested in putting a team together and applied to put us in the league.
“Having the guys from midget helps but I think the senior guys like Mike George and Mike Ross are huge additions as well. They’ve haven’t played in awhile and it’s been good to have them back in there.”
For George, it’s been almost 15 years since he’s played baseball on a competitive basis.
“When I was last played I was teammates with Andrew Albers,” George said. “I moved back here a couple of years ago and Dillon brought it up when we were playing (senior hockey) with the Battlefords Beaver Blues this winter, so I figured why not give it a shot.
“We’re all getting back into the groove here, but I’ve missed playing that’s for sure.”
The Trappers hit the ground running in their season debut on May 23, as they went on the road and routed the defending league champion Wilkie Brewers 12-1.
“Our hitting was good and we had excellent pitching,” Hudec said. “It was an all-around good performance from the team.”
George had a home run in the victory while Ross brought in a pair of runs and had a strong performance on the mound to earn the win.
The Trappers followed that up with a 14-4 triumph over the Edam Blue Sox in their home debut Tuesday evening.
Andrew Hudec and Ty Fedler led the way at the plate with three hits each. Hudec drove in three runs in the victory while Fedler brought in a pair.
Their winning ways came to an end in the nightcap as they dropped a spirited 5-4 battle to the Mervin Flyers.
“It was a tough loss but we did a lot of good things in that game,” Benoit said. “The way that we battled back when we were behind was really impressive.
“We loaded the bases a few times but we couldn’t bring those runs home, and I think that’s something we’ll be able to improve upon as the year continues.”
Ross had two RBI’s in the defeat, while Brayden Buziak drove in a run as part of a two-hit performance.
Damian Nordell was the hero for the Flyers as he brought home the winning run on a fielder’s choice in the top of the seventh inning.
Although the Trappers are scoring runs in bunches at the moment, Hudec is expecting that there will be some tough nights in the offensive department as they face the top pitchers in the NSRBL.
“You are facing consistent and deceptive pitchers on a regular basis in this league, so for our younger players they’ll have to get used to that along with the speed that the game is played at,” Hudec said.
“So far, they’ve done a good job with that, but we’ll see how they adjust as the season goes on.”
In addition to their league play, eight of the Trappers players who are under the age of 20 will be representing the Battlefords at the junior provincial baseball championships in July.
“We have a few guys that have played on the Beavers in the last couple of years that will be with us as well, so it should be a pretty good team,” Hudec said.
A location for the tournament has yet to be determined.
The Trappers will be on the road Thursday as they’ll pay a visit to the Meadow Lake Sox for a 6:30 p.m. contest.
The Sox earned their first win of the season Monday with 18-7 road win over the Mervin Flyers.
The next home game for the Trappers will take place Tuesday, June 13 when the Standard Hill Lakers will travel to Beaver Lions Stadium.
