A two-run, ninth-inning rally by the Moose Jaw Miller Express Wednesday night went for naught as the Saskatoon Yellow Jackets came back to win the Western Major Baseball League game 3-2 in 10 innings.
It was the fourth loss in a row for an Express team that has struggled with putting together hitting and pitching consistently. Still, they refuse to just roll over and give up despite their 1-8 record and the fact they may be down in any given inning.
"We're getting there," said Express coach Justin Fuhler. "Our defence was good tonight, our pitching was good, and we've just got to keep doing the little things . . . In terms of base running, we've had a couple of mishaps the last couple of games as far as guys not understanding what I want, and just miscommunication, not anybody's fault."
When all was said and done, as people shuffled out of Ross Wells Park one player punched a wall repeatedly in left field. Another broke a bat in the on-deck circle just as the game ended
"It's not that the guys are trying to lose, they're trying to win, so I'm sure they're getting frustrated," said Fuhler. "At the same time, I haven't seen any quit out of them yet. So we're going to keep battling and hopefully, we'll start getting a couple of breaks here and there."
While frustration may have boiled over onto inanimate objects, it hasn't hurt them during the games so far.
"During the game, we're pretty relaxed for the most part," said designated hitter Brandon Loveridge, who went 1-for-2 with a walk and was hit by a pitch. "We've got to find ways to win. We can't finish games right now."
In the bottom of the ninth, Loveridge ripped a double to left field over the head of Saskatoon's Dustin Emberly, scoring Royle Beach, who led off the inning with a double. Loveridge was then lifted for a pinch runner - the rarely used Brett Wieterman - who later scored on an Eric Nutzhorn sacrifice fly.
"Anytime you get someone like Royle on base with his great speed, that's exactly what we needed," said Loveridge. "We keep giving ourselves chances to win games, but we can't pull it out."
Beach went 2-for-4 in the game with a double, a walk, a stolen base, and two beautiful catches in right field.
Saskatoon's Chris Hoerter's single cashed in Dustin Emberly in the top of the 10th, reclaiming the lead for the Yellow Jackets. Reliever Dan Knox closed out the game for Saskatoon.
The Express essentially wasted a brilliant start from staff ace Paul Waterman, who allowed only seven hits in nine innings of work, striking out six and walking none.
"I pitched pretty well (and) the defence was excellent behind me," Waterman said. "It's just unfortunate we lost.
"We're right there, and hopefully we'll pull one through and get a little bit of a streak here."
The team is definitely together, Waterman said.
"We're pressing, but we'll be there. We'll get it."
The Express thought they tied the game earlier when Beach was caught off third and charged home. Beach barrelled over catcher Alex Vertcnik, apparently elbowing the ball out in the process. Although it appeared Beach touched home plate first, Express coach Justin Fuhler said home plate umpire Rick Haley told him he called him out when he elbowed the catcher, and that he should have thrown Beach out of the game.
"He (Haley) goes, "The way I look at it, I'm doing your guy a favour by not kicking him out of the game,' (but) I didn't agree with that," said Fuhler. "If you kick him out of the game for doing that, that's fine, but he didn't, so you finish the play where he was obviously safe at the plate. That kind of hurt us because that would have tied it up early."
The Express' next game is Friday at Ross Wells Park against the Regina Red Sox.
Waterman gem not enough for Express
Waterman gem not enough for Express
- Published on June 14th, 2007
- Published on July 10th, 2009
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Corey Atkinson
A two-run, ninth-inning rally by the Moose Jaw Miller Express Wednesday night went for naught as the Saskatoon Yellow Jackets came back to win the Western Major Baseball League game 3-2 in 10 innings.
It was the fourth loss in a row for an Express team that has struggled with putting together hitting and pitching consistently. Still, they refuse to just roll over and give up despite their 1-8 record and the fact they may be down in any given inning.
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Comments
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- could have told ya
- - September 18th, 2009 at 18:05:49
joe you have no idea. i made no mention of the team i meant the umps in moose jaw or swift for that matter
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- could have told ya
- - September 18th, 2009 at 17:39:52
another game decided by the umpires in moose jaw
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- joe
- - September 18th, 2009 at 17:16:20
could have told ya they would be brutal!!!
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- could have told ya
- - September 18th, 2009 at 16:32:52
granted they aren't the Millers of the past. (4+years ago). but when they are close and might scrape out a win it seems a call goes they other way. my comment was that the umps in the jaw that also do swift seem to be heard more than seen. always interjecting themselves in the outcome. challenging players... walking towards them instead of away. i know they can't lose control of the game by allowing things like running the catcher and elbowing go but it seems they challenge everything they can to make sure they are seen ot there. it is not about them. more often then not the play that people remember isn't a great double play or diving catch it is an arguement with the ump. is there no other umps? it seems they do every game... it must take time to get up to that level of umping and i respect the work they do. but it seems that if there were more umps there might be less grudges if you will.
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- joe
- - September 18th, 2009 at 16:05:58
I do have an idea! umps aren't the reason. The team doesn't have the talent to go the distance!!! Swift is the squad!!!
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- joe
- - September 18th, 2009 at 15:48:57
gotta be the umps no other reason they are 1-9.
