Knights have the arms, confidence to win
By Sean Rooney on July 19, 2017.
srooney@medicinehatnews.com @MHNRooney Midway through their season, the K of C Knights baseball team was plodding along at a .500 clip, winning a few, then losing a few. Then they caught fire, winning 13 in a row and giving them plenty of confidence entering this week’s Montana-Alberta American Legion A North District tournament. “Since that 13-game streak we’ve dropped games here and there, but we’ve always rebounded, played our best baseball,” said coach Lane Aman, whose team wound up 18-10, third in the eight-team district. “We’ve been swinging the bats well, it’s going to be the hottest team that takes the tournament.” Medicine Hat plays 10-18 Great Falls in the double-knockout event Thursday in Havre. The only team they haven’t beat is 22-5 Vauxhall, but Aman notes they took the Spurs to extra innings early in June. What changed for the Knights? Outside of confidence, they’ve made the most out of a full pitching staff and their bats have come alive at the right times. “It’s almost a little bit confusing, having to know all the different guys that can throw and all the different pitches each guy can throw,” said catcher Theryn Berndt. “But it’s nice to have guys that can throw strikes.” Berndt looks back to the semifinal of their home tournament. Down 9-8 to Fort Macleod in the final inning, Keon Vereschagin hit a game-tying double, then Berndt drove in his teammate for a 10-9 win. “That one, we didn’t play our best baseball for the first five or six innings,” said Berndt. “It helps to teach you about the ups and downs in baseball that everyone faces. It happens with any team. You might not play your best but you’re trying to win a ball game anyway.” The streak ended July 8, but players hope they’ll get on another one this week. One team will get to the final unbeaten, meaning the team they face would have to beat them twice to win the district. Both finalists advance to the State tournament the following weekend in Three Forks, Mont. “Every time we’ve played Vauxhall, we haven’t shown our best,” said third baseman and pitcher Easton Brooks. “Plus districts is a big tournament, we’re going to be hyped up. Hopefully we see them in the finals and are finally able to get that W.” Ethan Boutkan gets the start Thursday, with Aman noting he’s thrown well against the Chargers in a few relief appearances. Beyond that, the pitching plan is all based on matchups. With six starters ready to go, there are plenty of options. Brooks would love to get the ball, but he’s as confident in anybody else to do the job as well. “It’s nice because all of our pitchers are very good, you have confidence in all of them,” said Brooks. “It’d be nice to get picked to pitch, but whatever happens… when there’s that many good pitchers you can’t take it personally if they don’t pick you. You’ve got to make the most of it.” 15
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