INNISFAIL – The Innisfail Hawks Mosquito A Blue team are league champs.
The team won their league in a championship series June 21 and 22 in Blackfalds.
Innisfail played Drayton Valley and beat them in a very close game, winning the title and gold medal, with a final score of 11 to 10.
“It was a close game. They really had to battle and stay focused to win that (gold medal) game,” said Misty Reberger, team manager, noting there were six teams that participated in the league championships. “(We) weren’t trailing at any point in the game but they were catching (up to) us towards the end.”
Teams played three games in the championship series, moving closer to the gold medal match with each win, noted Reberger.
It was the team's first time winning a league championship, she added, noting there were three Mosquito A teams (Blue, Black and Red) with Innisfail Minor Ball Association this year.
The Mosquito A Blue team had a fantastic year, noted Reberger, pointing to their season record of 11 wins and three losses.
The boys played hard and earned their spot in the championship series, she said.
"The three losses were actually right at the beginning of the year. They just seemed to grow together from there,” said Reberger, noting the season ran from May to the end of June. “They really meshed together as a team and enjoyed each other on and off the field.”
Coaching staff also played a role in the team's success this year.
“All their coaches provided lots of leadership and skill but also kept it fun for them,” she added, noting at that young age it is an important part of playing baseball, along with developing their competitive edge.
“Our coaches provided everybody with equal opportunities to play positions,” she added, noting that while a majority of the 12-member roster had played baseball in previous years, there were several newcomers to the sport.
“We want to thank the Innisfail Minor Ball Association for all their work in providing such a great ball league for these kids to get started in and to our coaches," Reberger concluded.
