PHOTO COURTESY GREG MORRISON
The Medicine Hat U12 Major Mavs, representing Team Alberta, lineup ahead of their 2-0 win over Team B.C. to open the Little League National Championship on Tuesday at Kingston, Ont.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Defence winning championships is a tired phrase in sports. But it was defence and pitching that propelled the Medicine Hat Major Mavs to an opening win at the Little League National championship.
The Major Mavs, representing Team Alberta at Canada’s Little League Championship in Kingston, Ont., won their first game of the tournament, beating Team B.C. 2-0 Tuesday.
Mavs’ starter Beckett Lybbert worked five innings of two-hit ball, striking out five batters. Archer Cunningham worked an inning of relief, allowing a hit but recording three punch-outs.
It’s a win head coach Steve Russell says was the start they needed. He also says the B.C. team, from Whalley, B.C., is touted as a juggernaut in Canadian Little League.
“The guys played unreal defensively, Beckett pitched a game that was unreal,” Russell said. “The pitch counts worked in our favour, Archer came in and was able to shut the door on them.
“Really, at the end of the day, it was a really good showing defensively. It was a game that showed that defence wins championships, not to say we’re going to be champions, but just in the moment it proved how important it is to be good defensively.”
The Mavs scored their two runs in the first inning, with Gavin Russell scoring on a wild pitch and Beckham Sprunger scoring on a passed ball in the next at bat. Russell says both scores came on close plays and he was left impressed with both players jump to score.
“Their ability to read the play in that moment and be aggressive and not scared was impressive,” Russell said. “Not scared to compete and make some happen, it was really great.”
The Mavs face Team Quebec today at noon. The Quebec team, from Mirabel, Que., is coming off a 3-2 loss Tuesday to the host Kingston Colts. Russell and his coaching staff were heading to watch the game after speaking with the News and says he’s just looking for his team to repeat their effort from Tuesday.
“At the end of the day, you pencil in the names and you just be there for the boys and you hope they compete the same way they did today,” Russell said.
After Quebec, the Major Mavs will face Team Atlantic (Cape Breton, N.S.) at noon Thursday before an off day Friday.
