Jr. Spurs back on the diamond

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times

Vauxhall pulls out all the stops for Canada Day — and one of the attractions each year is the doubleheader at Jets Stadium. This year, the Jr Spurs lined up against the YQL Sluggers to put on a show.

In the first game of the day, the Jr Spurs collected nine hits but were unable to pull out a win as they fell 10-5. Ashton Jensen and Jacob Keenen led the way offensively with two hits each. Josh Tolsma, Hunter Simpson, Everett Smith, Liam Okell, and Braden Smith all had a hit in the game. Keenen pitched three innings and allowed seven earned runs on one hit and 10 walks. Tristan Dyck pitched the last two innings and allowed three runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk. 

Wrapping up Canada Day with another game against the YQL Sluggers, the two teams put on an offensive clinic for the crowd. When all was said and done, Vauxhall once again outhit the Sluggers but was unable to win. After five innings, the Sluggers walked away with an 18-13 victory. Everett Smith, Ty Dorin, Roan Strach, and Keenen all had two hits in the game while Jensen, Tolsma, Simpson, Braden Smith, and Tristan Schrader all had one knock. Braden Smith started on the mound and went 1.2 innings. The pitcher allowed nine runs (three earned) on four hits and four walks. Strach was the next man up and went 2.1 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on two hits and five walks. He also had a strikeout on the day. Dorin pitched two-thirds of an inning where he allowed five runs (four earned) on five walks. Schrader was the last Jr Spur to take to the mound and pitched one-third of an inning. 

This past weekend saw Vauxhall back on the road for the first doubleheader against the District 8 Knights. Game one was all Knights as they cruised to a 16-6 win over the Jr Spurs. Vauxhall had four hits in the game as Dorin, Okell, Keenen, and Nixon Donald notched one apiece. Jensen got the start and went three innings with nine runs allowed (three earned) on eight hits and two walks. Evan Daniels pitched two-thirds of an inning where seven runs scored (zero earned) on three hits and a walk. Schrader pitched the final out which was collected on a strikeout. 

The Knights’ offence proved to be too much for the Spurs in game two, as Vauxhall fell 16-1. Jensen, Dorin, and Tolsma had the hits. Everett Smith pitched one inning where three runs came home (zero earned) on a hit and two walks. The pitcher also collected one strikeout on the day. Schrader and Donald also pitched in the game. 

Sunday saw the two teams rematch in Vauxhall as the Jr Spurs looked to return the favour. The first game saw the Knights continue to swing the bats well as they won 14-3. Tolsma, Dorin, Donald, Strach, and Gibson Best had the hits. Simpson pitched four innings while Tristan Dyck pitched the final two innings. 

The week wrapped up with another loss to the Knights — this time 13-2. Hits for Vauxhall came from Tolsma, Okell, Dyck, Keenen, and Braden Smith. The Spurs sent Strach, Keenen, and Braden Smith to the mound as they totalled four strikeouts over seven innings. 

This week sees three more games for the Jr Spurs as they take on the Lethbridge Jr Bulls on July 10 at home and July 13 in Lethbridge for a doubleheader. First pitch on July 10 goes at 6:30 p.m.