The Weyburn Senior Beavers had their home opening weekend with games on Saturday and Sunday. Both games were played against the Yorkton Cardinals.
In Saturday's home-opener game in Weyburn, the Cardinals managed to get off to an early lead, scoring eight runs in the first five innings. The Beavers didn't get on the scoreboard until the sixth inning where they scored four runs, while the Cardinals picked up another run making the score 9-4. However this surge of runs didn't last. The Beavers didn't score again until the bottom of the ninth inning, getting two runs, whereas the Cardinals picked up single runs in the seventh and ninth innings. The Cardinals won the game 11-6.
In Sunday's outing, the Cardinals once again started off the scoring, picking up single runs in the first two innings making the score 2-0. The Beavers came back in the third by scoring three runs, making the score 3-2 for the Beavers. However the comeback wouldn't last, as the Cardinals scored another three runs in the fourth inning. This made the score 5-3. The Cardinals continued to extend their lead throughout the rest of the game. The score was 9-5 for the Cardinals heading into the bottom of the ninth. The Beavers were at bat with a final chance to try to come back.
With two outs, the Beavers managed to close the gap and tie the game at 9-9. The bases were loaded when shortstop Jon Neuberger stepped up to bat for the Beavers. Neuberger raised his bat, ready to take a swing at the pitch that would decide if the Beavers won, or went to extra innings. The pitcher threw Neuberger his first pitch, and hit him with the ball. This forced a walk giving the Beavers a 10-9 win over the Cardinals.
"It didn't actually hurt that much; the reward's a lot better than the pain," said Neuberger. "(The comeback) felt really good, especially in front of the home crowd for the first win. We were down four runs, and to come back was huge. It was awesome."
"Everyone just kind of came together. We haven't been on the field much. It seemed like in the last couple of innings everyone started to see the ball a little better at bat, and what-not," said outfielder man Mark Darlington. Darlington is an import from Martinsburg, West Virginia who is in Canada for the first time. "It's awesome, it's awesome. Everyone's really nice, it's a good time. I can't complain."
The Beavers were supposed to have a game on Friday in Melville against the Millionaires but it was cancelled. No date is currently scheduled for this game to be made up. The Beavers played the Regina Red Sox at home on Monday, but due to publication deadlines a report from this game couldn't be included in this issue.
The Beavers will be on the road this weekend. They head to Yorkton on Thursday, June 9, and play in Melville on Saturday, June 11. Next week the Beavers will play back-to-back home games on Monday, June 13 and Tuesday, June 14. Monday's game will be played against Melville, and Tuesday's game will be played against Regina. Both games begin at 7:05 p.m. at Tom Laing Park.
