The Innisfail Sr. Indians are facing a demanding July game schedule after the rainy weather saw five games cancelled so far this season.
“They'll all be made up in July,” said coach Steve Bouteiller. “We'll be at least two games a week for the rest of July.”
Boutellier said the schedule is going to be tough for the team, but pointed to the players' ages as an advantage.
“We have youth on our side,” Bouteiller said. He said one player is 26, but most of the players are 21 or under.
As of July 3, the Indians' record stood at three wins and two losses.
“All our games have been pretty close,” Bouteiller said, adding there are a couple of exceptions. The first game of the year the team won 14-0, with pitcher Jay Kirkham throwing a shutout.
Another exception was a loss where they were beaten 10-0, Bouteiller said.
The 17-man team has six new players and 11 returning after last year's season.
The Innisfail Merchants are hosting the Western Canadian Baseball Championships this year Aug. 9 -13, overlapping the Parkland Baseball League Championship being held Aug. 10-12 in Eckville.
Bouteiller said the overlapping tournament will be handled by sending the younger Merchants to the western championships. The older Indians will play in the Parkland tourney.
The team works well together thanks to plenty of experience. Bouteiller said several of the players have been together since they were in mosquitoes.
“Our defence is probably the strongest,” Bouteiller said of the team's strengths.
The Sr. Indians are playing in Lacombe on July 11 this week and face off at home with the visiting Rocky Red Dogs on July 13.
