Knights drop first game of Districts

By JAMES TUBB on July 26, 2024.

The Medicine Hat K of C Knights are looking to rebound after their first Districts game.

The Knights gave up five runs early and came back but couldn’t hold off the Lewistown Red Redbirds, falling 13-8.

The Knights put up five runs in the top of the fourth inning to hold a brief 6-5 lead before Lewistown scored eight unanswered runs for the win.

Liam Cunningham led the offence with two RBIs on a hit with a run scored and Ayden Anderson had two hits with an RBI and a run scored.

Head coach Cole Schreiber says nerves played a factor for both teams. He says the younger Knights squad wasn’t able to control the game as well as the Redbirds.

“Defensively, we were a little bit more nervous than normal and unfortunately it led to some uncharacteristic mistakes for us,” Schreiber said. “Offensively, we had a decent day at the plate, we did some good things. But with that said, we also kind of lacked the big hit in one or two innings that would have gave us a real good shot. So I would just say uncharacteristic mistakes and a young group that hasn’t been in this spot before.

“But now we get to learn from it and look to get a win.”

Schreiber liked how his team did settle into the game offensively, something he’s looking for more of on both sides of the ball if they want to stay alive in the tournament.

“We got some energy that was a real good push back and I could tell the other team was starting to panic a little bit,” Schreiber said. “If we’re able to put up a zero after that, or even keep the other team to one, we probably have a really good shot in that game. So the pushback was good.

“Early in the game, despite going down, the guys knew we weren’t out of it. I wouldn’t say anybody thought we were out of it, even late in the game. It’s just unfortunate and a couple too many mistakes. We cut them in half and we probably have a chance to win that one.”

The Knights will face the Great Falls Chargers on Friday at 9 a.m. The Chargers also lost their first game, falling 15-2 to the first place Vauxhall Spurs. Schreiber says they’ve had success against Great Falls this season and will look to find it again.

“We haven’t played them for a while here and they’ve gotten better as the year went on so that’s going to be a tough game,” Schreiber said.

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