Knights fall in District quarter-finals
By JAMES TUBB on July 30, 2024.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb The Medicine Hat K of C Knights defied expectations with a run through Districts this weekend. The Knights entered the tournament with the youngest team in the Class A North District tournament held in Lethbridge, losing out in the final game of Saturday’s play ahead of Sunday’s finals. After losing 13-8 to the Lewistown Redbirds on Thursday and bouncing back with a 12-2 win Friday over the Great Falls Chargers, the Knights beat the Tri-County Cardinals 10-2 Saturday morning, setting them up with a game that night against the Havre North Stars for a chance at making it to the finals. The Knights lost 9-5 to Havre, finishing fourth in the eight-team tournament. Head coach Cole Schreiber told his team they surprised a lot of people in the tournament and he was proud of their efforts. “We surprised ourselves and a big part of that goes to each and every guy who stepped up and got better throughout the year,” Schreiber said. “It’s extremely encouraging when we look at the future. We go into districts as the youngest team, decimated by injuries as we were, for us to put up a fight, that’s pretty exceptional. “For a team led by all Grade 9 and 10 aged kids. When you go up against some Grade 11 and Grade 12, first-year college kids, that’s a big difference physically. Mentally, they’ve seen a lot more, so for us to have a .500 year and get two wins in districts, that’s extremely encouraging for our program long term. “I’m really excited to see what a lot of these kids can do over the next couple years. The sky’s the limit.” Ethan Chenard had two hits with two runs scored against Tri-County, with Ward Davies tallying a hit with a run scored and two RBIs. All but one of the Knights’ hitters recorded a hit. They were led by Liam Cunningham on the mound. He worked a complete game, striking out six batters in his seven innings pitched. “He was exceptional on the mound in that Tri-County game,” Schreiber said. “We had contributions up and down the order, everybody in our lineup had a hit that game except one guy, and the guy who didn’t get a hit came through with the sac bunt when it mattered. “So to get contributions from every guy in the lineup and in a win or go-home game was pretty exceptional.” The Knights season came to a close with the loss to Havre. They led 5-0 after the top of the fourth inning before the Northstars scored six runs in the bottom of the frame for a 6-5 lead. Havre added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth for the 9-5 final. Ayden Anderson had three RBIs with a hit, and Chenard tallied two RBIs with two runs scored and a hit. Ward Davies started the game, working 3.2 innings. Andersen took over on the mound, working an inning with a punch-out. Ethan Bowey finished the game, working 1.1 innings. Schreiber says they had standout performances early from Davies on the mound, and Anderson had a two-RBI double in the third for the lead. He says they also had the opportunity to add more to their tally but couldn’t, which ultimately cost them. “We had a chance to add on a couple more there, we had some runners on in the top of the fourth with only one out but we couldn’t get any more, and then in the next half inning, there’s when things kind of turned for us,” Schreiber said. “When we’re up five, if we get that to maybe six or seven, it’s maybe a different ballgame. Give Havre a lot of credit, they put up a big inning the next inning and it was one of those ones where we just couldn’t seem to slow the momentum down.” With the Knights’ season coming to a close, Schreiber says they’ll be available for players who want some practice throughout what’s left of the summer and before they turn the focus to fall ball. He’s looking forward to fall ball and whomever returns to play, he’s also looking forward to seeing some of the Knights go play other school sports to round out as athletes. As he looks toward next season, Schreiber says the adversity faced while being such a young team will only serve them moving forward as they mature and get stronger. “If you just were to show up at the park and look at us, you could tell we’re a lot younger and a lot lighter than a lot of the other teams,” Schreiber said. “So for us to show that grit and tenacity and fight out two wins, keep battling even after we lost that first game, it is definitely lots to build on. “We have a lot of talent with that young group of kids and they’re a little bit more mature, maybe beyond their years than what I’ve seen in the past from some of the Grade 9-10 age kids.” 23-22
