VAB completes 3-0 weekend

Times Photo by Trevor Busch. BATTER UP: Vauxhall Academy of Baseball Jets batter Kaleb Bozek contemplates a swing during doubleheader action versus Prairie Baseball Academy at Lloyd Nolan Yard in Lethbridge on March 28.

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times

With another weekend of games in southern Alberta, the Vauxhall Academy of Baseball were on the diamond, taking on Prairie Baseball Academy (PBA) and the Webber Wildcats. Starting on Saturday with a doubleheader, the Jets took on PBA’s junior varsity squad for another rematch.

The Jets would collect 11 hits en route to a 12-2 victory. Easton Kitura had a big day at the plate with three hits, including a home run and three RBI, while Will Zielinski and Kaz Harris each had a two-hit game. Kaleb Bozek and Kaden Carson each had a double, and Hudson Nikkel and Matt Getz each notched a single. Graham Thiessen took the ball to start the day and was dominant with five innings pitched and 11 punch outs while only allowing four hits. Cedric Leblanc pitched an inning from the bullpen with a strikeout and two earned runs on a hit and a walk. Ben Connolly finished things off with an inning of work where he struck out one and allowed a pair of hits.

“We have played the Prairie Baseball Academy a lot of times this spring, so I think we came out pretty flat on Saturday. We ended the game much better than we started, and we pitched it really well. Good thing our pitching was really good in that game because we were pretty flat on the offensive side,” explained Les McTavish, head coach of VAB.

Following game one, the Jets were back on the field to take on the Wildcats. The bats continued to lead the way with 10 more hits as the Jets took the game 9-0. Zielinski collected three hits for VAB, Kitura had another two base knocks, Bozek had a home run, and Nikkel, Getz, Kaz Harris, and Jaxon George all had a hit in the win. Calum Andersen started for the Jets and pitched a solid four innings with 10 strikeouts while only allowing a single hit and three base on balls. Noah Simpson was called from the bullpen and pitched two innings with one strikeout and a hit allowed. Zielinski finished with an inning pitched and a pair of strikeouts.

“The second game against Webber, which is nice to play different opponents. We played well, we pitched well in that game, and it was a really tight game until late, when we scored a bunch of runs. But it was, you know, it was a 0-0 game into the fourth inning. I was happy with the effort there,” added McTavish.

Sunday’s action saw one final game for the Jets as they took on PBA once again. Like the first matchup of the weekend, the Jets saw plenty of offence as they won 12-2 yet again. Over six innings, Vauxhall had nine hits with Bozek leading the way with three. Kitura had a double and a single, and Rogan Rivard, Gerrit Vanderwal Nikkel, and Zielinski all had singles.

It was Carter Bevans’ turn to start as the pitcher, who went three innings and was charged with an unearned run on one hit and two walks while striking out five. Charlie McMillan pitched an inning and two-thirds, where he walked two and struck out PBA batters. Jacob Flach collected one out after allowing one earned run on a hit and two walks. Aiden Sloan pitched the final inning, where he walked two.

“We kind of continued to get better throughout the weekend and then moving into Sunday. We came out well, and it was really cold with an east wind and a pretty miserable Sunday. I was proud of how the guys came out and handled themselves with the cold, and the weather wasn’t an excuse. They were getting after it, so that was good,” continued McTavish.

With plenty of games against the PBA this spring, the coaching staff and players prepare for every game the same, no matter the opponent. Despite some lopsided games, the process of getting ready to play the game can never change.

“As a coach, we don’t play the games. Ultimately, it’s up to the players, and we post the lineup, and it’s up to them to go out and compete. That was a big conversation that we had this weekend as a group, not worrying about who the opponent is, but worrying about taking care of your own business and preparing to play. If you were going to play the (New York) Yankees, you’ve got to prepare the same way you’re going to play the Athletics. That’s baseball, and that’s what makes it unique,” said McTavish. “If you play in the big leagues, you get 162 games, so you’d better learn to get ready to go every day, no matter who you’re playing, how you’re feeling, what the weather is, or what city you’re in. That’s also why they’re here — to learn, grow, and try to build on the tools in their toolbox. That’s all part of the maturity process.”

The Jets are now lined up for home-and-home doubleheaders against the Okotoks Dawgs. The Jets head to Okotoks on Saturday with the first pitch at noon. The two teams then compete in Vauxhall on Sunday with the first pitch at noon at Jets Stadium.