Slow start for shorthanded Tribe
The Swift Current Indians got the Western Major Baseball League regular season underway with three home games over the weekend. The team was still missing almost half of their roster, including their entire starting rotation, and only managed to win one of three games.
The Indians turned 12 hits into a 12-3 win over the visiting Moose Jaw Millar Express in Friday's opener. They led early after Nate Ackerman hit a tworun bomb in his first at-bat of the season and then added five runs in the third inning to open things up. Nelson Quark battled his way through five innings to earn the win, allowing four hits, three walks, and two runs while striking out four.
Ackerman finished three- for- five with three runs scored and three runs batted in as he picked up right where he left off last season in a brief appearance with the Tribe. Local product Chad Schultz was also three- for- five with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Swift Current's Reid Fritzke made his debut with the Tribe and had an RBI single and scored a run while starting at first base. Designated hitter Casey Bang was on base four times with two walks and two hits, scored twice, knocked one run home, and stole the team's only base. Robbie DeVries made a scoreless relief appearance for the Indians and Aaron Godinez allowed only two hits and one run over the final three innings to seal the win.
Saturday, the Indians lost the rematch 5-2 when they made five errors and allowed the final five runs after taking a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. Fritzke had three hits, including a double and an RBI. Third baseman Kevin Czarnecki also doubled and brought home a run. Starter Austin Ell had a nice debut with five scoreless innings, allowing only three walks and four hits.
Sunday, the Indians managed nine hits but could not string many together in an 8-3 loss to the visiting Weyburn Beavers. Weyburn knocked out 14 hits combined with six walks and two Swift Current errors. Tyler Enns was a bright spot for the Tribe at the top of the order with three hits, a run scored and a run batted in. Local Justin Kehler was solid in relief, allowing five hits, three walks, and just one run over 4.1 innings.
"They made a lot more contact than us too," said coach Joe Carnahan after Sunday's loss. "We are striking out way too much right now. We did square some balls up and hit the ball a lot better today than yesterday, but we have a ways to go here."
"I seen a lot of positives," he said of the weekend overall. "It's only May right now and we had some guys in different roles for this weekend than what they are going to be in once we have everyone here. The guys on the pitching staff actually stepped up and did a pretty darn good job. We had limited numbers on our staff and a lot of them aren't typically starters and they came in and did a good job."
The play of the team's three homegrown players was also positive said Carnahan. "Yeah Reid was really swinging the bat well and he had a tonne of hits this weekend. Chad was doing a good job and made some great plays defensively. Justin pitched good, gave up one run in fourplus innings. All three of those guys were outstanding."
Carnahan said the team was still waiting for about 10 players and expected them to start trickling throughout the week.
The Indians are back at home tonight for their fifth consecutive game to start the season when they host the Regina Red Sox. They also will visit Weyburn on Friday and Melville in Saturday.