June 17, 2021

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Chantze Pauls threw the opening pitch of the season for the Sask5 Giants — and the first pitch thrown in anger in the province of Saskatchewan — on the way to a 16-1 romp over the North West Prairie Pirates in Saskatchewan Premier League play on May 30.

And somewhere during the second game of the doubleheader someone in the Giants dugout may have muttered “maybe we should have saved some of those runs for this game,” as the Pirates bounced back for a 2-1 win.

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First game in other provinces

PLAY BALL I: Coffin continues to drive Chevies as PEI takes field first

PLAY BALL II: Cloverdale first in BC, Coquitlam scores sweep, Deagle does deep

PLAY BALL III: Prairie Pirates had no Chantze against Price, Sask5 Giants

PLAY BALL IV: New Brunswick underway as Mudcats, Alpines, Fisher Cats, Cardinals win

PLAY BALL V: 75th season kicks off at St. Pat’s Ball Park in St. John’s

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Brodie Guenther led the Giants in the opener going 3-for-3, including a homer and a pair of RBIs. Josh Goldberk also went 3-for-3, driving in three.

Oakland Flodell had a pair of hits, including a triple, and drove in two runs, Kleyson Gabruck and Kai Ryden each doubled. Gabruck drove in four runs.

The Giants scored six runs in the second inning, which was plenty enough for Pauls (Osler, Sask.) who allowed one run on two hits in four innings.

Konnor Hennigar took the loss for the Pirates.

In the nitecap, the Giants were deadlocked 1-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Hanson Mark singled on a 2-1 count for the walk-off victory. With two out, Bill Hosegood singled and scored on the Mark single.

Cooper Price struck out 14 in pitching a complete game for the win. He allowed two hits and one unearned run in his 101-pitch outing.

Brody Wrench worked five innings for the Pirates, allowing one run on three hits and striking out nine. Drew Canfield took the loss.

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The Swift Current Yard Goats scored three times in the bottom of the seventh to walk off the Gull Lake Greyhounds in the opener of the Sask-Alberta League Sunday, June 6 at Mitchell Field.

Shawn Lee had two hits, including a double, while Taylor MacDonell and Shaun Spence also had a pair or knocks.

Jordan Stein went the distance for the win striking out 12, while walking only one.

Ian Fiddler took the loss, allowing nine hits and two walks as he fanned eight. Clay Harvey doubled for one of the three hits by the Greyhounds.