The 11U AAA Canucks have been on quite the roll since dropping their season opener to the Regina Blue Jays. Since the initial setback against the Jays the Canucks have reeled off 7 straight wins including an 18-9 triumph Tuesday night over the same Blue Jays team that beat them 3 weeks ago. After 8 games the Canucks are 7-1 in league play, good enough for 2nd place behind the undefeated Swift Current 57’s.
“You could tell that first game of the season the boys were a little nervous”, says Canucks head coach Shane Sowden. “But since then you can see the boys growing in confidence each week. We don’t talk about winning very much as a team. We try to focus on getting better each week, being great teammates, playing hard and learning from our mistakes and so far the boys are buying in and reaping the rewards on the field. It’s been fun seeing them grow and improve over the first month of the season.”
Canucks defeat White Butte 9-8
The Canucks jumped out to an early 9-1 lead after two innings in White City but weren’t able to get any more runners across home plate. David Choe got the start on the mound and was strong over his two innings of work. Houston Hillmer came on in the bottom of the 5th to throw two scoreless innings for the save.
Canucks defeat Weyburn 15-8
In the first game of a weekend double-header, the Canucks got off to a fast start scoring 6 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning. The Canucks would add 3 more in the 2nd and 6 more in the 4th inning on their way to a 15-8 win. Isaiah Ross got the start on the mound and recorded the win after pitching the first 3 innings. Miles Winter, Will Funston, Dalton Stephens, Lucas Lind, David Choe and Houston Hillmer all reached base twice and scored twice. Choe led the way offensively with his 2nd home run of the year; a three-run shot, no doubter over the left field fence while Stephens added a triple.
Canucks defeat Weyburn 20-13
The 2nd game of the weekend doubleheader turned out to be an offensive slugfest between the two teams. Hudson Sowden got the start and the win on the mound for the Canucks. Isaiah Ross reached base an unbelievable 5 times in the game with a triple, double, two singles and a hit by pitch. Lucas Lind, Dalton Stephens, David Choe and Will Funston all reached base 3 times in the contest. Houston Hillmer added a double and a triple while Funston and Stephens recorded triples of their own. The highlight of the game came in the bottom of the 3rd inning when Choe hit a grand slam to right-center field for his 3rd home run of the season to break the game wide open. Lind and Choe came on in relief of Sowden to finish the game off.
Canucks defeat Regina Blue Jays 18-9
The Canucks came out swinging Tuesday night scoring 5 runs in the 1st inning and never looked back. Brady Wilcox put on a show at the plate hitting his first home run of the season and adding two triples. Isaiah Ross also had a big night at the plate going 4 for 4 with a couple of doubles. Dalton Stephens and David Choe each reached base 3 times. Lucas Lind got the start and was strong on the mound to get the win. David Choe came on relief to throw 3 innings while Daniel Choe threw a scoreless 6th inning to close out the game.
The Canucks travel to Swift Current this weekend for their first tournament of the season where the team will get to face a number of teams from Saskatoon and around the province.