The boys of summer are almost ready to take to the field as the Yorkton Alexander's Junior Cardinals look forward to opening day, Saturday, May 14 when they host the Southey Eagles of the Optimist Junior Baseball League in a double header at the home of Yorkton baseball, Jubilee Park. Games are scheduled for 1 p.m and 3 p.m.
The Junior Cardinals will play in two leagues again this summer, the South East Senior Baseball League and the eight team Optimist Junior League which includes three Regina teams, Moose Jaw, Raymore, Weyburn, Southey and Yorkton.
The regular season for the South East Baseball League will go until the end of June while the Optimist League, which will not run playoffs, regular season will end one week prior to provincials at the end of July, says Junior Cardinals head coach Brian Trollope.
Trollope reports the Junior Cardinals roster will carry 14 players on the bench for junior games and add four or five senior players for the South East Senior League games.
Currently Junior Cardinals coaching Staff includes Trollope, Gary Lamb, possibly Brian Boechler, Bryce Jacobs and Marks Jacobs.
The team will play 13 games in the South East Senior League and 14 in the Optimist Junior League, says Trollope. About half the games will be played under the lights at home at Jubilee Park, he notes.
He reports that Calanchie will get the nod to start the home opener Saturday, May 14 at 1 p.m. while Ross Stillborn will take the mound at 3 p.m.
Trollope suggests the Junior Cards will have a lot of depth again this year. He believes the team's pitching will be very strong again this season. The Juniors will have Logan Calanchie, Daniel Lamb, Kent Larson, Colby Parachoniak, Matt Poier, Brett Kobelka, Dane Kobylko, Travis Nesbitt, Justin Stupak Jayden Shwaga and Ross Stillborn returning this summer. They will be joined by a strong former midget left-handed pitcher, Andrew Minchuk.
Also returning this summer will be Luke Boechler who has overcome some major adversity to take his place on the team.
The Cardinals lost only two players from last season but have picked up four top notch local baseball players this year, Trollope points out.
The Junior Cards will host the 2011 Saskatchewan Junior championship-tournament Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 29, 30 and 31. The tournament, featuring eight junior teams will see the provincial winner advance to the national championships, Trollope closes.
