NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
McCoy Colts pitcher Kayne Olinski looks in to his catcher for the sign during the Colts 10-0 win over the Magrath Zeniths on May 5.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
One of Medicine Hat’s top inner-city rivalries will flex its muscle tonight when the McCoy Colts and Hat High Hawks varsity baseball teams face off.
The two baseball teams haven’t faced off in two seasons due to COVID-19 putting a halt to the high school seasons.
Hawks head coach Lyall Foran said he’s excited for the matchup.
“I know the guys are really looking forward to it and they’ve got a great team over there,” Foran said. “We’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Both the Hawks and Colts have started their seasons off with a 5-0 record. After tonight’s bout, one of the two teams will continue their undefeated run and the other will fall to 5-1.
Colts head coach Cole Schreiber said him and his players talked about the game at Monday’s practice.
“This one will be a big one for us,” Schreiber said. “They’re all excited and everybody really wants to win, there’s not a guy on the team that doesn’t want to win tomorrow. But we know they have a good group over there and we know we have to give our best to give ourselves a shot.”
Both coaches are happy with how their undefeated teams have started their seasons as they’ve flexed their offensive and pitching abilities. The Colts have outscored their opponents 53-14 this season. The Hawks have put up 42 runs to their opponents’ 13.
Foran said his team is living up to what he was hoping they would achieve.
“Strong pitching, strong defence and allowing the bats to come as the game progresses,” Foran said. “Just trying to get into the opponent’s bullpen as quickly as possible. I know that as the season progresses and we’re getting into that provincial format, the work we’ve done up to this point should allow us to continue to be successful.”
Across town, Schreiber said he’s happy with his team and when asked if he has to calm any nerves ahead of the rival matchup, he said the team handles pressure well.
“We have a very mature group and we definitely have some guys that are going to be amped up but I think it’s going to help our guys,” Schreiber said. “I don’t think we have a lot of guys where the pressure is going to get to them. I like our group, everybody’s confident in their abilities, I don’t really think anybody’s going to try to do too much but like I said before, we know what they have over there and we have to be our best.”
Tonight’s rivalry game is nothing new to Foran who has been at the helm of the Hawks for nine seasons. He says the inner-city games are always a lot of fun and are games to look forward to.
“Before COIVD, over the last three years it’s been a back-and-forth rivalry and it’s made it that much more exciting, and exciting for baseball in Medicine Hat,” Foran said. “It gives these kids something to shoot for, something to look forward to and it’s been a lot of fun.”
Schreiber is also no stranger to the Hat High, McCoy baseball rivalry but for a different reason. This is his first season coaching at McCoy but when Schreiber was in school he played for Foran and coached beside him after graduating. This will be the first time the two will coach against one another and Schreiber said it will be a game to remember.
“I know he’ll be amped up, I’m amped up as well and it’s gonna be a lot of fun,” Schreiber said. “A little bit of a different experience but something I think we’ll both be able to look at as a strong memory and something that he can be proud of for sure, too. He had me for a couple years at Hat High, he had me in the American Legion program, so it’s nice for him to see a former player out coaching as well.”
First pitch gets underway at 5:30 p.m. at Jeffries Field.
