Pictured left to right: Gavin Nolin (No. 11), Andrew Hudec (No. 9), Kyle Gregoire (No. 28) and Blair Geering (No. 11). (File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Coming out swinging

Beavers take senior ball opener in Wilkie

May 25, 2022 | 3:00 PM

Coming off a long winter, and postponed opening game just prior to the weekend, it was safe to say the North Battleford Beavers senior baseball team was ‘chomping at the bit’ to get the 2022 season started.

Serving as the first glimpse at the new-look Beavers following the amalgamation of the Trappers and Beavers this year, there was added anticipation heading into the team’s opening game, a 6-3 win over the rival Wilkie Brewers Tuesday night.

The Beavers came out to a strong start scoring three runs in the third inning to go up 3-0 with runs batted in by Mike Ross, Connor Neave, and Bryce Gatzke. Blair Geering added a two-run homer shot of his own, to extend the lead to 5-0 in the fourth.

To their credit, the Brewers did answer with three consecutive runs of their own to make it a 5-3 game in the bottom of the fifth, though that was as close as they would get. The Beavers added one more to make it a 6-3 final, and take the win in their opening game.

Player/manager with the Beavers, Kyle Gregoire said it felt good to just get out there in game action as a team again, and see some positive results early.

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“It was definitely exciting to get going after the rain out of our first game, and it was nice to not have to wait too long to start the season off against one of our rivals in the Wilkie Brewers,” Gregoire said. “The guys played really well there and it was a good start to the season.”

In addition to getting the bats working early, another positive was the team’s stout pitching display from the mound. Jared Schmidt got the win pitching three innings, and Mike Ross closed with the save in two-and-two-thirds innings’ work.

Following the game, Ross called it ‘a great team win’ with guys all throughout the lineup doing their part.

“Blair [Geering] had a great at-bat seeing a lot of pitches and hitting that two-run home run, and Aaron Cadrin made some great plays at shortstop to keep the Brewers off the bases,” he said. “[…] I just tried to feed off the adrenaline and hit my spots, and it helps mentally having the boys make plays behind me.”

In other action from around the North Sask River Baseball League Tuesday night, the Kindersley Stallions toped Macklin 4-0, the Lloyd Twins beat Unity 10-3, Meadow Lake edged Standard Hill 10-8 at home, and the St. Walburg Reds defeated Mervin 11-5. There will be no games Wednesday.

The Beavers will return to play Monday, May 30 against the Kindersley Stallions, for their second of four straight to open the season on the road. The team’s home opener will be June 6 at Beaver Lions Stadium against the Standard Hill Lakers.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1