The Fort McMurray Giants can’t wait to get back home to Shell Place after enduring their longest road trip of the season. The Giants (5-9) played nine games in a 10 day span as they traveled through Alberta and into Saskatchewan. The team had several strong performances but faltered at times and ended the nine game trip with a 2-7 record.
The Giants started the trip with a pair of loses against their rivals the Edmonton Prospects (6-7) falling 12-4 and 6-3. They bounced back nicely in Swift Current (6-8) with a big 9-6 come from behind win. The game saw the Giants belt three round trippers with John Loschiavo, Mike Bowes and B.J. Minarcin all going yard.
The team then took on the undefeated Weyburn Beavers (12-0) and despite leading late in both games, the Giants were unable to close it out losing 2-1 and 5-4 (10 innings) the next night. Nik Cardinal and Tyler Moskalyk both had strong performances on the mound. In two starts this season, Cardinal has a 0.50 ERA over 14 innings worked to go along with 10 strikeouts. Moskalyk struck out eight Beaver batters the following night over seven innings worked and now has 12 strikeouts in 13 innings this season.
The bats woke up the following night in Moose Jaw as the Giants scattered 20 hits around the park in a 21-7 thumping over the Miller Express (9-6). Loschiavo, Liam Rihela and Josh Iannetti all had four hits in the win. Rihela added five RBI in the game and leads the team with 12 so far this season.
The Giants were able to whack another 13 hits out the next night against the Express but dug themselves into an early hole and were never able to claw their way back out as they lost 10-8. Minarcin and Bowes each hit their second homeruns of the season while Rihela followed up his four hit night with another three hits including his first homerun of the summer.
In Swift Current the next day, the Giants lost a close 8-5 game. To finish up the lengthy road trip the Giants took on the Medicine Hat Mavericks. The Mavericks hammered the Giants 15-2 to pick up their 10th straight win as they sit in first place in the Western Division with a 10-2 record.
The Giants return home to take on that same Mavericks team for a four game set at Shell Place beginning on Tuesday. First pitch for all four games is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. The Giants will look to take advantage of their next few sets of games as they will play 11 of their next 16 games at home.
WMBL NEWS
The Western Major Baseball League made a major announcement over the weekend as the league announced a name change for the 2019 season. The WMBL will become the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL).
“We are excited about the new name, in that it will highlight the fact that the League’s footprint lies entirely in Canada. We are a baseball showcase for Canada and are proud to bring in fans and players to celebrate our beautiful country. Being in Canada gives us a unique advantage to provide great experiences to not only our homegrown talent, but visiting players as well. The same applies for the fans and community sponsors of the League,” said WMBL President Kevin Kvame.
The league also announced that Edmonton will host an all-star game at Re/max Field, that is scheduled to take place on Monday July 8, 2019. The city will host an all-star game again in 2020.
The 12 team league is also looking at possible expansion with Saskatoon and Red Deer among the cities the league is looking at.
