The Moose Jaw Major AAA All-Stars showed once again that they deserve to be at the Canadian Regionals after a dominating 4-1 win against the Rocky Mountain Little League.
Though Moose Jaw gave up eight hits their defense along with their superb pitching allowed them to only give up one run. The All-Stars only needed four hits to secure the win.
Emery Schoenroth, Zaid Guillaume, and Trey Standhope all got their shots on the mound, allowing a combined eight hits, and seven strikeouts in six innings.
Moose Jaw was able to get out of an early jam, and two base hits and an error loaded the bases for RMLL in the top of the first inning. They were able to get the first out after a hit to third base allowed them to get the force out at home.
Schoenroth would come back with two straight punch outs to end the inning, with the bases loaded.
In the bottom half of the first, Moose Jaw would get on the board first. Dillion Flanagan would get on base with one out, and Neal Kohl up to bat. Kohl would hit a towering flyball to centre field, and with the RMLL fielder would losing track of it, the ball would drop for a one-out triple, scoring Flanagan.
Luke Turner would hit a ball to third, scoring Kohl in the process putting Moose Jaw 2-0 after the first inning.
RMLL would answer right back in the top of the second inning. With one out, a couple of unfortunate bounces would put two runners on first and third base. A bloop single to left field would score the runner from third to cut the lead to 2-1.
Zaid Guillaume would come into the game with two runners on base and only one out. He would shut the door getting the two outs, with RMLL stranding two baserunners. Guillaume would pitch three innings of relief allowing only one hit, no runs, and striking out five batters.
The All-Stars would add to their lead in the bottom of the second inning. Luke Pratte would drive home a run with a two-out double, while Neal Kohl hits a single to drive home Pratte to put Moose Jaw ahead 4-1.
That’s how the game would finish, as Moose Jaw’s pitchers came in clutch not allowing a run following the second inning.
Pratte finished the day going one-for-three at the plate with an RBI. Kohl also picked up a hit and an RBI in three plate appearances.
The win improves Moose Jaw’s record to 4-1 and they sit in second place going into their final round-robin game of the tournament on Wednesday against Quebec at 3:30 p.m. MT. They locked themselves into a playoff spot with their 5-0 win over Ontario on Monday.
If they win, they will represent Canada in the Little World Series in Williamsport, Penn, from August 17-28.