Jets see end of home tournament rained out

Times Photo By Trevor Busch. FIELD WORK: The Vauxhall Academy of Baseball Jets held their 18th Annual Haven Agencies Invitational Tournament over the May long weekend at Jets Stadium. Competing teams included the AHP Renegades, Lethbridge Elks, Webber Wildcats and the Red Deer Braves. (Pictured) VAB Jets and grounds staff prepare the infield for another game on Saturday afternoon.

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times

The Vauxhall Academy of Baseball Jets were back at home this weekend as they played host to the Haven Agencies Tournament at Jets Stadium. Teams coming into Vauxhall were the Lethbridge Elks, the Red Deer Braves, AHP Baseball Academy, and Webber Academy.

VAB opened the tournament on May 16 against the Lethbridge Elks and the Jets were all business with a 13-1 win. Patrick MacInnis was masterful on the mound as the starter went five innings allowing only one hit and punching out 10 batters. Kaden Coldwell came in from the pen and gave the Jets the final inning allowing one run and striking out two. Offensively, the Jets saw a big day from Jaxon George who went 2-4 with a double, a grand slam, and eight RBI. Callum Thomson was 3-3 with two doubles and an RBI, Eric Reiling was 2-3 with a double, Wheatley was 2-3, while Karsen Haney, Stevyn Andrachick, and Easton Kitura all contributed with a hit.

But rain would play a factor on Saturday as the incremental weather saw each team only able to play three total games. The Jets would lose to Webber and beat AHP. Despite the weather, overall the tournament was successful and the players and coaches were grateful for all of the support from the community.

“Overall, it was a good weekend. It was a lot of work to get the field ready,” stated Les McTavish, head coach of the Jets. “I think we came out of the gates, played really well on Thursday night — after having to spend a lot of time cleaning the field up — against the Elks, and (Friday) night we came out against Red Deer and we played really well again. And then on Saturday night, we came out a little flat on the mound and just weren’t super crisp on Saturday night against Webber. We ended up losing 6-4, and we stranded the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, so it was a good ballgame, and Webber’s got a good team. But overall, it was, you know, all things being considered, especially with the weather, it was a successful weekend. I appreciate all the volunteers and support of Haven Agencies, Vauxhall Meats, and places like that that supported the tournament. So overall, it was a successful event.”

Next up for the Jets, weather-dependent, is the annual game against the Bulls in the TCMM Game on May 22. Being one of the bigger games of the year, the Bulls and Jets are excited to once again get out and remember alumni Tanner Craswell and Mitch MacLean. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Spitz Stadium.

“(We’re) right back at it tomorrow. Unfortunately, the weather doesn’t look very good for tomorrow, but, you know, it’s always a special event, and this will be the first time that it’s kind of happened in the middle of the two tournaments. The Bulls start a little earlier this year, but, it’s always a good event. It’s always a special event to remember Tanner and Mitch, and it’s always neat for our players to play the Bulls. So, you know, we’re looking forward to it and hopefully, the weather holds and we’re able to play it. If not, we’ll figure out another plan on how we can remember Tanner and Mitch,” continued McTavish. “Who knows, we might move to the fall or something like that against the PBA.”