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Cardinals finally solve Okotoks

It took seven attempts so far this season, including tournament play, but the midget AAA St. Albert Cardinals finally downed an Okotoks squad, 6-5 on Sunday afternoon to conclude a 3-1 weekend. St.
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It took seven attempts so far this season, including tournament play, but the midget AAA St. Albert Cardinals finally downed an Okotoks squad, 6-5 on Sunday afternoon to conclude a 3-1 weekend.

St. Albert opened the homestand with a 11-10 marathon game that lasted nearly three-and-a-half hours on Saturday morning against SEEBA #2. Understandably tired by the time a 5 p.m. tilt against the Red Deer Braves came around, the Cardinals suffered an 11-5 loss.

“We came across a situation where we had a small zone for both teams,” said Cardinals head coach Rob Boik of the morning tilt won by a hit up the middle by Cam Purych. “It led to a lot of walks and a long game. It was good we were able to battle back.

“Red Deer was a bit of a let-down. We simply didn't throw enough strikes, and when (that happens) a good team will make you pay for it.”

The Cardinals rebounded against SEEBA #2 on Sunday morning with a 12-2 victory before facing Okotoks in the afternoon.

Keegan Hucul started and Scott Gerun earned the save as both pitchers combined for five strikeouts and just two walks between them. Okotoks’ pitchers Kevin Skeldon and Danny McKinnon combined for two strikeouts and four walks.

The Red Birds opened the scoring on the bottom of the third, Dan Wiun driving in Adam Appleby with a double.

Okotoks took the lead in the top of the fifth with three RBIs. But emotions were high after Gerun was tagged in the bottom of the first at home plate on a play many thought was safe, and it fuelled a comeback that started with Jarret Klim smacking a double to lead off the inning.

“If it was one thing we've learned is that plays early in the game affect the outcome,” said Gerun. “So we try to minimize those types of plays. You can't do much. I thought I was safe but apparently not. If anything that rallied our team.”

Gerun drove a ground rule double to score Klim and then trotted home on Wiun’s RBI single.

“I knew I had to come up big so I relaxed and came through. It's always good to have good guys behind you that you know are going to hit you in. There's nothing worse than leaving guys on base,” Gerun said.

After Matt Biollo was walked with the bases loaded, Purych drilled a ball down the first base line to score two, for a total of five in the inning to make it 6-4.

“I didn't really want to blow it for the team,” said Purych. “I took a deep breath and swung nice, even and it worked out for me. Couldn't ask for anything better.”

Okotoks managed one run in the top of seventh just after Gerun stepped in to replace Hucul. Gerun followed the earned run against with three straight outs to close out the game.

“It was great to see us come back alive with the bats and it really all happened because of the way Keegan was pitching on the mound for us,” said Boik. “He was able to minimize rallies they were putting up and that's huge in baseball.”

“It's great to see us turn the page against this team and get the monkey off our back against the Okotoks teams … that we can come to the yard knowing we’re just as good and not second-best. We can play with them. It’s a big win.”

“It feels great,” added Purych. “I hate losing. It was great to get a win out of that. We learn a lot every time we play them. It makes us better as a team and as individual players.”

Last night St. Albert hosted the Sherwood Park Athletics but the score was unavailable at press time.

Next up for the Cardinals is what will serve as the equivalent of a soccer friendly tournament as the Tigers Baseball Association hosts its annual tournament. The midget squad is up against one of the best teams in the Sunburst Baseball League, the Fort Saskatchewan Athletics and the Red Deer Riggers to bookend a Saturday night feature against the St. Albert Tabbies.

“You're going to see better quality pitching, fielding and hitting,” said Purych. “It's going to be a step up for us but I think we'll do well.”

Boik plans on practicing little things like holding runners, picks and bunt defences while resting the pitching arms after this past weekend. The coach's expectations is mostly that his young players come out learning how more mature players handle themselves and how they play the game, then bring that to their own efforts in the Norwest league.

“I know going in that they're men, they know how to play and it'll show our players what it's like to play against men and see how they play the game. Generally speaking, they don't make a lot of errors or walk a lot of hitters. They have disciplined at-bats and play the game the right way. It'll be a good challenge and a good learning experience.”

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