They are “rag tag” no more.
The Innisfail Junior Indians, a team made up of players between the ages of 17 and 21 and thrown together as a “rag tag” group earlier this summer, have won the silver medal at this year’s Western Canada Baseball Association (WCBA) Junior AAA Championship held last weekend in Winnipeg.
“This year was supposed to be a learning experience but expectations were blown away as it became apparent very early Innisfail was the team to beat,” said Desmond Bouteiller, who was the local team’s co-coach with brother Steven and special assistant Jay Steeves. “This team has built for the future as they are only losing the two Provost pick-ups due to age restrictions and only two more the following year.”
The Indians got off to a great start in the six team round-robin tournament by beating the Carillon Sultans 2 – 1.
Blair Mulder, a pick-up from the Lacombe AA midget team, pitched a great game for Innisfail, striking out seven. He was aided by the rifle arm of Greg Walsh, a Calgary pick-up, who threw out two base runners. Taze Steeves stroked two singles and Corbyn Shields had one RBI with a single and double.
Innisfail went on to beat the Elmwood Giants 4 – 1 in game two. Jay Kirkham pitched six innings, striking out five and walking six. Kyle Burkitt came in for the save. Taze Steeves hit a two-run double off the wall and ended up with three runs batted in.
The Indians ran into a tough Altona Bisons squad in game three but still prevailed 1 – 0 to take their third straight victory. The winning run was scored on a bases loaded infield error in the bottom on the ninth inning. Ryan Olson, a pick-up from Provost, pitched magnificently, giving up only three hits and one walk.
In the fourth game the Indians ran into the hot bats of the Regina Red Sox and lost 7 – 1. But Innisfail bounced back in game five by beating the Saskatoon Dodgers 2 – 0. Corbyn Shields pitched a one-hit shutout, striking out seven and walking two. Blair Mulder and Ryan Olson were both two for three at the plate.
The Indians finished first in round-robin play and met Altona in the final. However, the Bison’s bats took their revenge and the Manitoba team went on to a 6 – 3 victory to claim the tournament’s gold medal.
Tournament and umpiring officials singled out the Indians as the squad that had shown the utmost respect and professionalism and became the team to watch.
“This is the first time our team has gone to junior provincial and now westerns and it is a very proud achievement to win silver,” said Ray Bergeron, Indians team founder and president. “I am even more proud they represented Innisfail so well.”
