MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Moose Jaw Ice didn’t have a lot of luck on their side during their third game of the Softball Canada U15 Canadian Championship on Thursday morning.
Despite being well known for their prowess in the field, the Ice committed three untimely errors, each of which turned into runs, on their way to dropping a 6-4 decision to the Brantford Bobcats.
As a result, the Ice hold a 1-2 record at the tournament in Ile-Perrot, Que. and likely can afford only one more loss in their final three preliminary round games if they’re to finish in the top 12 and advance to the championship round.
It was a decent start for the Ice against the Bobcats, as Charlize Hillmer hit a one-out single in the first inning and came around to score on a double by Callie Bell, giving Moose Jaw a quick 1-0 lead.
There things stood until the third inning, when a pair of errors led to Brantford scoring three runs on three hits. Another defensive miscue helped the Bobcats put up another three runs in the fourth, and just like that the Ontario silver medalists had a 6-1 lead.
The Ice got back within striking distance the next inning, with Bell hitting a triple that scored Tara Bell and Tara Friesen before coming around to score on a dropped pop fly, making it a two-run game.
That would be as close as Moose Jaw would get, though, as Frances Follett would shut the door for Brantford the rest of the way to secure the win. Follett finished the game with three runs allowed, two earned, while striking out nine and walking seven.
Moose Jaw starter Friesen ended up with one of ‘those’ pitching lines, giving up five runs, one earned, on seven hits over 3 ⅓. Aurora Wingenbach allowed a run on two hits over 1 ⅔ and Kenzi Hildebrand pitched the final inning, striking out a pair.
Callie Bell was the only Moose Jaw batter with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and three runs batted in.
Branford’s offence was led by Alexis Smith, who went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Zoe Morin was the chief beneficiary of Moose Jaw’s defensive miscues, scoring both of her runs on errors.
The Ice are back on the field against Manitoba’s Westman Magic at 5 p.m. Moose Jaw time Thursday before closing out their round robin against the Newfoundland Selects at 8:30 a.m. Friday and B.C.’s Abbotsford Outlaws at 2:30 p.m.
The playoff round runs all day Saturday and Sunday, with the gold medal game at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
