MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Moose Jaw Ice didn’t get the result they were hoping for in their opening game at the Softball Canada U19 national championship in Saskatoon on Wednesday afternoon.
The Ontario champion Aurora Diggers scored four runs in the third inning and another five in the seventh to take a 10-1 victory as the Ice made their debut at the 21-team tournament.
Moose Jaw qualified for nationals after finishing second at provincials in mid July but is playing as Sask 1 thanks to the provincial champion Saskatoon Prairie Dog Selects acting as the host team.
Despite the lopsided final score, things were relatively close throughout the contest, as Moose Jaw trailed by four much of the game before Aurora put together their big final inning to pull away once and for all.
Ava Unser got the start in the circle for the Ice and allowed four runs on seven hits over three innings, walking three and striking out a pair. Katelyn Zukewich took over in the fourth and was bit by a handful of defensive miscues -- Moose Jaw had five errors in the game -- and would allow six unearned runs on five hits the rest of the way.
The Ice had eight hits in the game, with Macy Litzenberger going 2-for-3. Rayelle Cooley scored their lone run in the fifth inning.
Tanya Limbani went 3-for-4 for the Diggers with a double, run scored and two runs batted in, while Natasha Limbani, Logan Forman and Jacqueline Vona all crossed the plate twice.
Jayde McGahan started for Ontario and held Moose Jaw scoreless through four innings while scattering five hits; Grace Churchill gave up the single run but allowed only three hits the rest of the way.
The Ice are back on the field later Wednesday when they take on the Alberta bronze medalist Drumheller Southern. Their tournament continues with games against the Manitoba champion Smitty’s Terminators (1 p.m.) and B.C. bronze medalist Cloverdale Fury 06 (6 p.m.) on Thursday before they close out their round robin against the Ontario 4 Vaughn Vikings and B.C. silver medalist Fraser Valley Fusion 06 on Friday.
The top 12 teams from the preliminary round will advance to the championship playoff beginning Saturday morning, with the remaining teams playing in the consolation draw for 13th place.
The championship game is set for 3:30 p.m. at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex in Saskatoon.
