Bantam AAA Braves drop pair of weekend games
For the Red Deer Bantam AAA Braves scoring runs wasn’t a problem on the weekend, but stopping them was.
The Braves dropped a double header Saturday, the first a 12-8 loss in the morning to the Okotoks Dawgs Black followed by a 16-3 defeat against the South Jasper Jays that evening at Great Chief Park. Red Deer has scored 62 runs in 11 games this season, but allowed 110.
“Started the year off our bats were pretty quiet. Our bats are starting to come around. We have a pretty good pitching staff, but we have to improve our mental sharpness in the field,” said head coach Kurt Simon.
Through 11 games the Braves are 2-9, but Simon said many of those losses were one and two run deficits and he likes the progress from his group so far.
“We’ve had not a real strong season in the win-loss column, but we’ve been close in a lot of games. About two games where we outright deserved to lose and the other losses we’ve been right there,” Simon said.
Against the Jays, Red Deer scored in both the first and second inning, but gave up six in the bottom of the second and were really out of the contest from there.
“Our challenge now is not letting them get down on themselves,” Simon said.
“We just want to compete and get better as a team and as ball players. In order to do that these kids need to learn how to battle through adversity. They’re getting chances to do that.”
Of the 14 players on the roster, the Braves have 10 players that our second year bantams and four players that made the jump from peewee AAA.
Led by two returning left handers including Kobe Karol, Simon said the pitching staff has been a bright spot so far early in the season.
“Kolbe Blackburn has done a really good job for us this year. He’s small in stature, doesn’t throw the ball really hard but keeps hitters off balance,” Simon said.
“Connor Fenton has been good in all facets of the game. He’s been really good all-around, pitching, hitting and defence.”
The Bantam AAA Braves will play the Okotoks Dawgs Red on Wednesday at Great Chief 2.
byron.hackett@reddeeradvocate.com