“Early in the game I thought we did a good job of getting guys on. We just either didn’t move them over or cash them in on our chances. We were trying to do too much and got ahead of ourselves…”
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The Saskatoon Berries had a chance to wrap up their first ever playoff series with a win at home on Thursday night against the Medicine Hat Mavericks.
Instead, some hot pitching for the Mavericks and a lack of timely hitting for the Berries led to a 3-0 shutout for the Mavericks at NexGen Patch at Cairns Field. The loss ties the Western Canadian Baseball League East Division semifinal series at 1-1 and sends the series back to Medicine Hat on Friday for a third and deciding game.
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“We had a lot of chances early on,” said Berries head coach Joe Carnahan. “We had at least a guy on second base with nobody out in the first three innings. We even had their bullpen going in the second. We were just getting too big and trying to do too much and not letting the game come to us. And their guy was able to settle in after that.”
The Berries loaded the bases with nobody out in the third, but failed to capitalize after back-to-back strikeouts. A fly-out ended the inning.
“Early in the game, I thought we did a good job of getting guys on,” said Berries designated hitter Nolan Sparks. “We just either didn’t move them over or cash them in on our chances. We were trying to do too much and got ahead of ourselves a little bit for sure.”
Medicine Hat took a 1-0 second inning lead on a run batted in groundout by Johnny Vulcano. The Mavericks added to that lead with a 2-run single in the fourth by Jaden Babiuk.
The Mavericks only had four hits in the game while the Berries had five, including three by leadoff hitter Carter Beck. Neither team was able to solve their opposing starting pitcher with Joshua Landry going eight strong shutout innings with no walks and 12 strikeouts. Berries starter Nick Nolan gave up three earned runs in seven innings and had three punch-outs.
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“Nick was outstanding,” Carnahan said. “He threw well. The one inning he gave up two runs, he didn’t get a call there to get a punch out. Other than that he gave up one early on and he pitched great for us today. It was unfortunate that we just couldn’t capitalize on his performance.”
Carnahan was ejected from the game after Jalen Freeman was called out on strikes to end the 8th inning. There were several close strike calls in the game.
The Berries got their playoffs off to a strong start on Wednesday with a 6-4 win in Medicine Hat. Michael Singleton got the win with six strong innings of 5-hit ball and only allowed one earned run. Tyler Davis went the final three innings for the save. Center fielder Carter Beck and catcher Bailyn Sorenson homered for the Berries, who scored four times in four innings off Mavericks ace Jacob Petersheim. Left fielder Micah Dvorak had a home run for the Mavericks.
The Berries and Mavericks each now face a do-or-die Game 3 in Medicine Hat on Friday.
“This year, we haven’t done anything easy,” Carnahan said. “It’s just another game with our same approach and just play a little bit more team baseball and have a good approach and when we get chances, not try to do too much. That’s what’s fun. Game 3, that’s why you play the game. That’s what makes it fun.”
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Matthias Trondson, who had a 1-1 record in 10 games for the Berries and a 3.60 ERA, will get the start on Friday.
In the other WCBL East Division semifinal series the Moose Jaw Miller Express upset the top-ranked Regina Red Sox 7-6 on Thursday to take the series 2-0. They will face the winner of the Berries versus Mavericks series in the East final.
The East Division final three-game-series will be played Aug. 11-13. The highest-ranking seed hosts Games 1 and 3 with the lower seed at home for Game 2. The WCBL championship, also a three-game-series, will wrap up the season Aug. 15-17.
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