The tables have turned around for the Barrhead Midget Orioles, who came up against some big challenges in the first round of their regular season.
Leaving behind their first round record of four losses and only one win, the boys pulled up their socks and have emerged from the second round with four wins and a single loss.
Head coach Steve Hunter said the team, which has a number of first-time ball players, is coming together.
“They’ve stepped up quite a bit and are playing very well,” he said. “Hopefully they’ll continue to play as a team.”
Their success began at the beginning of last month, when the Orioles hit the diamond against Team Alberta Women in Edmonton June 7 and claimed a victory of 15-3.
On June 8 the boys played the Athabasca Trappers, who they beat 22-14 in extra innings.
Later that day the Orioles geared up for another game against the South Jasper Jays. The team may have been different, but the results were the same; Barrhead earned their third win of the weekend with a close score of 5-4.
The following weekend the Orioles headed to Athabasca, where they played Drayton Valley on June 15. The boys continued on their winning streak and left the diamond winners of a 13-7 game.
Their only loss of the second round came against the Edmonton Eagles later that day, when the Orioles were caged and suffered a 9-0 game.
But, despite the break of their winning steak, the Orioles picked themselves up, dusted themselves off, and went on to win the final game of the round against Athabasca. They played in Barrhead June 19 and won 9-5.
Now, Barrhead is preparing to enter round three. The boys play their first games this coming weekend, when Barrhead will host Whitecourt, Jasper Place, Coronation, Red Deer, and Leduc.
The Orioles kick off the weekend against Whitecourt at 9 a.m. on Saturday, then play Red Deer at 6 p.m. Their final opponent is Leduc on Sunday evening at 6 p.m.
Hunter is encouraging the community to come out and support the team. Barrhead fans will be joining about 150 out-of-towners, so the coach added restaurants should be ready for hungry ball players.
After the weekend, the Orioles will play South Jasper Place. The game will be scheduled for a weekday, however the date has yet to be chosen.
On July 12 Barrhead will travel to Red Deer for two games. After that, the team’s tier will be determined.
“Right now they’re in tier 3,” said Hunter. “Hopefully we hang around there or move up.”
