Aaron Cadrin pitched a five-inning shutout to lead the Beavers to victory in their season-opening win. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Home Run Start

N.B. Beavers swing into season with 16-0 victory

May 14, 2024 | 1:00 PM

The defending champion, North Battleford Beavers came out swinging to the tune of 16 runs in a wild 16-0 win Monday night in Glaslyn, to open the 2024 North Sask River Baseball League season.

Flying out of the gates hot, the Beavers picked up between four and five runs in each of the first two innings to build an early lead, headlined by a two-run homer by Bob Hudec, a pair of doubles on the night by defending league MVP Gavin Nolin, and another double knocked home by Andrew Hudec.

Player/coach of the Beavers, Kyle Gregoire said it was great to see the bats working early, in what was a full team effort.

“I thought we had a very good start, and it was nice to have the offense going in the first game,” Gregoire said. “You never know how you’re going to start off at the beginning of the season so I think it went really well. [The] first few innings we had some really good at-bats, had some longer at-bats and were able to get some good opportunities to cash in some runs that way, and our defense was really sharp too.”

On the mound, Aaron Cadrin pitched a five-inning shutout, as the team mercied the Orioles after five innings of play, giving up just three-to-four hits total on the night.

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“I think they got a couple hits there and the ball was in play lots, but every time it was the guys behind me made some really nice plays in the infield and the outfield and I just tried to hit my spots,” Cadrin said of the effort.

“We got some runs early there, and it’s always nice to pitch with the lead as it kind of takes some of the stress off. I don’t yet have the velocity I will in a month or two, but it was nice to go five innings and get that first win of the year.”

The Beavers will now get a night off Tuesday, before returning to play for their home opener at North Battleford’s Beaver Lions Stadium Wednesday, as the team hosts the Lloyd Twins for a 7:30 p.m. start.

“Lloyd is never a team you want to slouch on, they’re going to have some really good players on their team, and we’ll have to be as ready as we can going in,” Gregoire said of the matchup. “They can be a team that has a good offense too, so we just have to play our game and just hope for some timely hitting at the end of the day.”

In the lone other game around the NSRBL opening night, Monday, the Standard Hill Lakers topped the Lloyd Twins 6-1 in Lloydminster. There will be two games Tuesday, as the Oil City Ducks host the Lashburn Cardinals in a battle of the two new expansion teams in Lloydminster, while the Mervin Flyers are at the Unity Cardinals.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1