SPORTSHOUND: I like it a lot!

Tales from the Doug-out for June 4, 2024

The Oilers punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup finals on Sunday night. I’m happy for them but also jealous. Why not the Leafs? ALWAYS NEXT YEAR! I’ve been saying that since 1967. Haha!! But the final round of playoffs is not starting for almost a week. What’s up with that? 

This past weekend, in between the two Oilers wins, Friday night and Sunday night, the Elk Point Sox 18 U baseball team hosted the Lakeland mid-season tournament with six teams coming to play on Bassett Field. I must say I was impressed with the caliber of play. Even before the COVID years, the midget level of baseball really died off in our Lakeland League. Most years, maybe only two or three baseball teams are registered in the whole area. With the exception of a provincial team from Bonnyville, who gave the most competitive players a place to play, baseball was dead in our Lakeland. The big major league ball diamond, Bassett Field, which hosted over 10 provincial championships from 1997 to 2012, was covered in weeds, and the Gophers had taken over.  By the way, the 18 U Sox won two gold medals and two silvers during that time ! 

Last year, the 18-year-old kids started coming back to play baseball. Eight teams from our area entered the Lakeland league last year. This year, we have a total of eleven 18-year-old teams. The young men and the odd girl playing baseball are having fun. And that’s what it’s all about. Parents, grandparents, and other old-timers turned out this past weekend with their lawn chairs to watch—just like the good old days. Let’s bring them back! 

The Elk Point Sox are doing very well this year, with four wins this past weekend; they now have a record of six wins and one loss and are sitting up on top of the league, tied with Plamondon for first place. 

Friday night, they defeated Marwayne 4 to 3 in the bottom of the seventh inning when Gavin ‘Greenlight’ Kadutski stole home on a passed ball.

Saturday morning against St Paul  Madden, ‘Mad Dog’ Flamand fired heat on the mound and pitched a complete game, winning this one. Mad Dog also helped the cause at the dish, hitting an in-the-park home run.

 Sunday morning, ‘Top Gunner’ Crawford’s turn to shine. He got the call to the hill and pitched a complete game, winning over the Lac La Biche Dodgers in five innings by the ten-run mercy rule. 

In the Sunday afternoon game, Gavin ‘ Green Light’ Kadutski was on the mound for the Sox, winning over Elizabeth Settlement. 

And I wouldn’t want to forget to mention, Brayden ‘Pinball’ Pinette and Kaysen ‘Dynamite’ DeMoissac both saw the mound, coming out of the bullpen for some relief pitching.

This coming Thursday night, the Sox will host the Cold Lake Cardinals. There are no hockey games anyway, so come on out to the ballpark and cheer the boys of summer on!!