The Athabasca Bantam Boys Trappers baseball team split a pair of games during the past week, losing their first one played June 13, but winning their next one June 16.
During their first match-up, the Trappers hit the road to Edmonton's Kilkenny neighbourhood, where they fell by a score of 6-4. Head coach Kurtis Wiselka said the boys gave up five runs in just the first inning alone.
"After the first inning, I sat them down and told them to settle down," Wiselka said. "I reminded them that they came out to play ball, and I told them to do just that. Afterward, they actually played pretty well."
He said they quickly got over their nerves, and came really close to catching up with their opponents.
"We outscored Kilkenny 4-1 outside of the first inning," Wiselka said. "But in the end, that first inning killed us. It's my hope we do better during our next home game against Morinville."
And doing better is just what they did, as they just blasted Morinville by a score of 23-5.
"This was definitely one of our better games," Wiselka said. "The boys really improved their field work from the first game, as well as their batting skills. They really bought into this game, and they played their best. The results really showed that."
In regards to their opponents, he said they did not bring their full roster to the game.
"They only had about nine players," Wilselka said. "They really did not play as well as some of the other teams we had faced throughout the year."
He added the team's season will soon come to a close, with their year-end tournament set to go June 23 at the Athabasca Regional Multiplex.
"Five other teams will be joining us at this event," said Wiselka. "They include Beaumont, Strathcona, Waskatenau, Edmonton-Mill Woods and St. Albert. It should be a fun time for the boys."
Mosquito-level Trappers Team Two Fall Short against Slave Lake June 14
The Athabasca Mosquito-level Trappers Team Two saw some action June 14, when they welcomed the Slave Lake Heat to the Athabasca Regional Multiplex.
But things did not turn out as well as they had hoped, as the Trappers could not overcome the Heat, who won the game 16-6.
Trappers Team Two assistant coach Denny Sawchuk said despite the loss, the boys still played pretty well.
"Slave Lake usually has a pretty good team," Sawchuk said. "The Trappers hung in there with them and played pretty hard. It looks like they had fun, and that is the main thing."
He said throughout the year, the boys kept plugging away and improved throughout the year.
"At this 9-11 age group, they learn new positions, and learn the game," Sawchuk said. "We had a few boys pitch this game that have not done so yet this year, and they did quite well, so I am actually impressed with that."
Athabasca Team Two also took part in the year-end tournament in Boyle July 16, where they went 1-and-2 in their three games.
