Barons take another shot at ending Caps’ domination
St. John’s has won 16 of last 17 provincial senior championships; will look for another beginning this weekend in Corner Brook
Sean Gulliver calls it Newfoundland’s very own World Series, but not even the great New York Yankees teams of the late 1940s and 50s — with six world championships in seven years — could boast what the St. John’s Capitals have accomplished so far on the local amateur level.
The Caps carry a three-year win streak — not to mention 16 all-newfoundland senior baseball championships in the past 17 years – into the first weekend of the Molson provincial senior A baseball championship starting Saturday.
The Corner Brook Barons play host to the first three games of the series (2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday) at venerable Jubilee Field, before the series shifts to St. Pat’s Ball Park in St. John’s for the remaining four games (if necessary) beginning next Saturday.
The Caps-barons rivalry is as old as baseball itself, but the gloss is definitely wearing off on the annual showdown.
And that’s because of the Caps’ domination.
“Agreed, it has been somewhat lopsided, but winning 16 of 17 doesn’t factor into the conversation when we’re talking to the team and preparing them for Corner Brook,” said Gulliver, the Caps’ field general who’s switched to filling out the lineup card following a lengthy playing career with St. John’s and Shamrocks in the local senior loop.
“This is our World Series and we go about preparing for it with that in mind.”
But while the Caps have appeared all but unbeatable in the all-newfoundland championship, the coaching staff isn’t standing pat.
Just as he did last year, Gulliver is infusing some new, young blood into the Caps’ lineup this summer – shortstop Dylan Mckenzie, first baseman/pitcher Tyler Hennessey and pitcher Ben Murphy.
Last year, Gulliver brought Redmond Hunt, Andrew Paul, Parker Gulliver and Danny Rice into the Caps’ fold.
“They’re talented kids,” he said. “I like to move them in to get their feet wet before we throw them into the deep end.”
That’s part of the reason. The other part is some St. John’s veterans are unable to play, namely Gary Dymond and Alex Walsh. And Gerry Stone, Brent Power, Steve Crouse and Sean Janes are unavailable for this weekend’s games on the west coast.