Jets touch down in Vegas

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times

The big trip down south is underway for the Vauxhall Academy of Baseball Jets as they landed on the tarmac in Las Vegas. Starting with a Friday warmup game against the Faith Lutheran Varsity Crusaders, Vauxhall saw a great pitching duel to begin the trip. After three scoreless innings for both sides, VAB would knock in a run to take a 1-0 lead. Both sides would pitch the ball extremely well the rest of the way as the Jets walked away with a 1-0 victory. Calum Andersen started and gave the Jets two solid innings with one hit allowed, one walk, and three punch outs. Graham Thiessen pitched one inning as a reliever while Josh Daloise pitched the next two innings. The right-hander allowed one hit and struck out three batters in his two innings of work. Will Zielinski pitched one inning allowing one free pass. Carter Bevans finished the game with two-thirds of an inning with a strikeout and a walk allowed. 

The Jets notched only three hits with Kaleb Bozek notching two while Hudson Nikkel had a hit along with the game-winning RBI and a stolen base. Kaz Harris walked twice while Easton Kitura and Zielinski each had one free pass each. 

Saturday saw a doubleheader for VAB as they took on the Centennial Varsity Bulldogs. Game 1 was a high-scoring affair with each team knocking the ball around the ballpark. VAB would outhit the Bulldogs 14-10 but lose the game 10-9. Nikkel had three hits and two RBI, Rogan Rivard, Tanner Morris, Kaden Carson, and Zielinski each had a pair of hits, and Kitura, Noah McIntosh, and Gerrit Vanderwal had a hit each. Nikkel and Zielinski also each had a stolen base in the game. 

Noah Simpson took the ball to start and gave VAB 1.1 innings with six earned runs on six hits and two walks. Aiden Sload came in for 2.1 innings and struck out three while allowing three earned runs on three hits and five walks. Charlie McMillan was the second reliever called upon and went 1.1 innings where he didn’t allow a hit or walk and struck out two batters. Bozek pitched the final two innings with three strikeouts and one earned run on a single hit. 

Looking for a rebound in the second half of the doubleheader, the two teams continued to pile up runs. The Jets once again outhit their opponent — this time 14-6 — but they fell 12-10. McIntosh, had a pair of doubles, Bozek had a double and a single, and George had two base hits. Morris hit a home run, while Matt Getz had a triple, and Kitura, Rivard, Vanderwal, Carson, Harris, and Mark Vulcano all had a hit in the loss. Ben Connolly was the starting pitcher for VAB and went two innings with four runs allowed (two earned) on a hit and two walks. Cedric Leblanc was the first man out of the bullpen and the reliever went 1.2 innings with six runs (five earned) on two hits and three walks. Over his 1.2 innings, Leblanc also notched a pair of strikeouts. Jacob Flach finished the game with 1.1 innings where two runs scored (one earned) on three hits and three walks. 

“We had three exhibition games and they went fine — We went 1-2. We’re trying to get everybody in and trying to learn more about the club,” said Les McTavish, head coach of the Jets.

Monday night saw the start of the Bishop Gorman Tournament as VAB opened against the home team. With these being the biggest games coming out of winter, the Jets understandably expect some ups and downs during the Vegas tournament.

“Ultimately you are trying to win a tournament but the level of competition is extremely high with some of the best teams we will play all year. Our expectation is to go out and play good baseball, not necessarily worried about wins and losses, but go out and play the game the right way and compete,”  added McTavish.

Playing Bishop Gorman on March 16, the Jets were locked in another great pitching duel. Vauxhall notched five hits in the game while their pitching staff limited the Gaels to just two hits en route to a 3-1 win. Thiessen was called upon to start and gave the Jets 4.1 impressive innings where he punched out eight batters. Over his innings, he allowed one earned run on two hits and two walks. Zielinski finished the game off with 2.2 shutout innings where he walked three and struck out a single batter. Bozek had two hits and an RBI, Kitura hit a solo home run, and Nikkel and Getz each contributed with a single. McIntosh hit a sac fly and collected an RBI. 

“We got off to a really good start last night (March 16) with a challenging opponent in the host of the tournament. There was lots of energy and the kids came out and played well,” explained McTavish.

After the win, the Jets moved ahead in the bracket and were awaiting their next opponent for Game 2 on March 17 at 7 p.m.