| Game 17: Québec 9 Saskatchewan 3 |
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SCOTT SCHMIDT This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it As teams were using Friday’s contests to assume the most dominant position in the standings possible, two teams with sub-par records were trying to climb back into the thick of things. Needing to turn the tides, Québec used explosive run scoring in the late innings to topple Saskatchewan 9-3 at Athletic Park. With the win, Québec kept its title hopes intact, while Saskatchewan (1-3) needs to win out and receive some help to advance. Only the top three teams in the four-team Pool A advance to the championship playoffs. “We’ve played only one bad inning so far in the tournament,” said Québec head coach Joel Landry. “So far we’ve played good, it’s good to have huge hits with two-outs. “We needed to beat Saskatchewan to move on, if not we’re in trouble and fortunately for us, we did it.” In the teams’ first meeting, Québec was practically handed a seven-run lead before Saskatchewan found its groove. This matchup was different though, as it was the prairie boys who opened the scoring. The clubs managed only one combined hit through the first three and a half innings before Saskatchewan broke the goose egg. A walk and a sac bunt put Taylor Van De Sype in scoring position for Taylor Livingston, who roped a single to drive in the run. The lead didn’t last long as Québec found the lumber in the fifth. Alexandre Beland doubled to lead off the inning and was quickly brought home on a double from Kevin Parent. Brian Bardis singled and scored along with Parent on an error — one of three committed by Saskatchewan fielders in the four-run inning. “For sure we got a good inning,” said Bardis. “We got a couple of errors from them and we ended with two innings of four runs. “Pretty slow start but we capitalized on the errors.” Saskatchewan got one back in their half of the inning, but Les Ailes added four more in the top of the seventh to stifle any comeback hopes. “The last few innings just kind of exploded on us,” said Saskatchewan coach Roger Anholt after the game. “It was early in the game that we just had missed opportunities that’s all. “We had opportunities to drive in runs, we got up 1-0 and we had more chances to really put some runs on the board and just didn’t get it done.” Anholt attributed the mental mistakes that can come in a tourney like this to the final outcome. “The league we play in here, against these guys, you can’t do that,” said Anholt. “We know that, and so well we should lose, and we did.” Québec has handled Saskatchewan so far this week, but has yet to solve any other foe. “We have trouble with our games against B.C. and Ontario,” said Bardis. “But now we can just hope for a Saskatchewan loss and we’ll be on to the final six.” |
