Calling the Bullpen

When it comes to winning ball games pitching can make a huge difference, not only in the majors, but in minor ball as well. With the Lakeland League finals coming up this weekend, all of our teams are trying to develop their pitching.

During the season is the time to develop pitching, the final weekend with pitch count in effect it will be too late to see if a kid can throw straight across the plate or even get it that far.  The team with the deepest bullpen will most likely win the league championship.

The Peewee Sox have been doing just that, developing pitching.

They had a two terrific games this past week winning over St Paul # 2 on Thursday night 16 to 10 and then on Father’s Day they played a game that had been rained out earlier in the week and defeated St. Paul #1 by a score of 14 to 11.

Almost everyone on the team has had a turn on the mound at some point during the season. On Thursday night ‘the Mighty Casey’ Warawa, Vanden ‘Super Mario’ Moroziuk,  Josef ‘Red’ Theriault, ‘Mick Jager’ Fontaine and Sam ‘Spiderman’ Rogal all pitching one  inning each.

This team has done very well, with Myrna Moroziuk as their head coach. First place was on the line when they faced the St. Paul #1 team.

Vanden ‘Super Mario’ Moroziuk not only pitched a pretty good inning, but he pounded a three run in the park home run. He almost passed the runner in front of him on the way to home plate getting there just before the throw.

 Pitching is a huge part of the game, but don’t ever think that the eight other guys on the field are not important. St. Paul proved it with some very good fielding. ‘Super Mario’ was robbed in this next two at bats. Once, by the short stop catching a hot liner and the next time he was up St. Paul first baseman snagged another solid line drive that would have brought in runs for sure had they made it through the infield.

Sox closer ‘Mick Jager’ Fontaine chucked some serious heat in the last two innings he pitched. Three up three down in the fifth inning when he was on the hill. Then, in the sixth inning he struggled a bit with his control, loaded up the bases, only to save the day in the end with three strike outs. ‘Mick Jager’ also hit two triples in that game as well driving in some runs.

Sox big man ‘Bazooka Joe’ Cardinal who rarely goes down without swinging doing his part with a double and a single   driving in some runs too. Good luck to the Peewee Sox this coming weekend, their finals are in St. Paul Saturday and Sunday.

The Bantam boys finals are also in St Paul this coming weekend. They lost a really close one this past week, by one run, against Cold Lake on Monday night. The bases were loaded in the bottom of the last inning, but they just couldn’t get the tying or winning run in.

The Bantam Sox head coach Brian Poitras has been doing the exact same thing, developing pitching, trying two new pitchers in that game.

On Thursday night they played an fun exhibition game against the Lakeland Northstars provincial team. Good luck to them, as well.

The Mosquitoes Sox lost a really close one in the final inning this past week. With the bases juiced and two out in the final inning, a ground ball was hit right down the third base line that ended the game with a forced play against Elizabeth Métis Settlement.

The Bantam girls Pumas traveled to St. Paul, on Monday night, losing a rough one by double digits. But rather than dwell on it they bounced right back and made a real game of it against Marwayne on Thursday night at home. Even though they lost that one too, it was within a run until the final inning.

The Peewee Pumas played in a B level softball tournament in Bonnyville this past weekend. We are a D town when it comes to softball.  The girls made some amazing plays and put up a good fight and won the bronze medal over Beaumont 13 to 6.

One of their players, pitcher Paige Skarsen is very dedicated to going to the next level, she has terrific work ethic and has been training really hard. She was  picked up by Marwayne this year to play with them in C level Provincials.

This coming weekend the Peewee girls will be hosting the Lakeland League finals right here at home. Come on down to the ball park and check them out and have a hot dog or maybe even two!