Much like the weather, the bats went cold for the Southeast Twins on the opening weekend of the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League season.
In less than ideal temperatures for baseball, the Twins hosted the Regina Wolfpack Saturday and lost by scores of 10-3 and 17-4. Sunday they were scheduled to have the Saskatoon Athletics in Estevan for a pair of games but were only able to play part of one contest as they fell 9-2 in a snow shortened match.
Anyone looking for a key to the Twins struggles didn't have to look far as they managed a combined nine hits in the three games. They surrendered nine errors over the weekend.
Saturday's double dip with the Wolfpack was not only the Twins first games of the regular season, they were also a rematch of last year's provincial midget AAA final which the Wolfpack won with a late rally.
Despite what the score might show, the Twins were in the game until the late innings. Entering the third inning they trailed 2-1 but a pair of Regina errors allowed Colton Gingras and Garret Fitzpatrick to score.
The Twins held the lead until the fifth when Regina scored twice. However any thoughts of a late comeback were scuttled when two errors led to a six run rally for the Wolfpack, all with two outs already recorded.
James Giroux got the start for the Twins and was solid as he allowed just two runs on two hits in four innings of work. Oxbow's Bryce Burnett followed up with two strong innings in relief and allowed one run. It was not a day to remember for Estevan's Austin Kuchinka though as he endured a tough seven innings and allowed six runs, all of them unearned, on four hits.
The Twins managed just four hits in the game and struck out 11 times in just seven innings.
Unfortunately for the home side, things didn't get much better in game two. Again they were unable to generate much offence as they scored four runs on just two hits and three errors.
In contrast, Regina jumped all over starting pitcher Garret Fitzpatrick, tagging him for seven runs, four of them earned, on six hits and two walks. Gingras and Cory Cooper each threw one inning of relief and allowed five runs apiece.
Giroux was the lone bright spot offensively as he scored two runs on a hit and a walk.
Sunday's game was not a lot of fun for either team, as they had to endure rain and snow.
Saskatoon jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first and added another run in the top of the third.
Both Twins runs came in the bottom of the inning as Krafchuk and Fiztpatrick scored, the latter thanks to a Sean Jonassen double.
Saskatoon got those runs back and more with three in the fourth inning and kept the Twins off the scoresheet until the game was called in the sixth. The second game of the doubleheader will be played at a later date.
Carson Perkins got the start for the home side and had a tough day as he allowed seven runs on four hits and six walks and five strikeouts. Cooper allowed two unearned runs in relief of Perkins while Brandon Hutt allowed one run in relief before the game was called.
The Twins are back in action on Saturday when they host the Saskatoon Diamondbacks in a doubleheader at Weyburn's Tom Laing Field. Sunday they are in Regina for two games against the Mets.
