It’s been a season to remember for the St. Albert Cardinals after last year’s forgettable performance in the Norwest Midget AAA Baseball League.
The 10th win in 21 games for the improving Red Birds was Wednesday’s 9-3 decision over SEEBA 2 at Legion Memorial Park.
“We’ve had a pretty good year so far. The guys are playing real well and we’re coming together as a team,” said catcher Nate Coffin. “We’re looking forward to the rest of the year.”
Last year the Cardinals lost 25 games and were shut out twice at provincials while going 0-4.
“It’s been a lot better this year. Last year we won only seven games,” said centrefielder Tyler Mecir. “As a group we work together a lot better and we get along really good. It’s good chemistry.”
The Cardinals are committing fewer errors after last year’s mistake-prone showing.
“Our defence is a lot better. We’re making those routine plays now, which really helps out,” said Mecir, a second-year Cardinal.
On the mound the Cardinal pitchers are consistently throwing strikes.
“Our pitching has been real good. Our starters have been doing really well this year. They’re getting deep into games for us,” Coffin said.
The Cardinals are also starting to hit the ball with authority. In consecutive wins against last-place SEEBA 2 (2-16), the home team banged out nine hits Wednesday and 16 hits the night before in a 15-8 victory.
“We had some really good at-bats. Guys were swinging a lot better, and were a lot more aggressive at the plate,” Coffin said.
Designated hitter Triffon Tatarin is batting a team-high .409, with 27 hits and 18 runs in 19 games.
Coffin, 18, leads the Cardinals in runs batted in with 17 and is second on the team with 20 hits, 10 runs and .385 average in 20 games.
Pitcher/shortstop Tanner Karpinski and pitcher/outfielder Mat Brisson are also hitting above .300.
“Our bats are working good. If we can keep that going throughout the season it would be great,” Mecir said.
Karpinski batted three-for-four and drove in two runs Wednesday. Mecir also stroked a triple in the first inning, added two RBIs and walked three times.
The Cardinals scored five runs on six hits in the first inning. SEEBA 2 committed five errors in the loss.
Brisson gave up one run on four hits in four innings. He struck out five and walked one. Nemanja Lilic and Karpinski pitched in relief.
Coffin and Brisson led the attack Tuesday with four hits apiece. Brisson also scored four runs. Karpinski and Connor Burns batted in two runs apiece.
Starting pitcher Gray Symington surrendered eight runs on 10 hits in three innings. Kory Keohane and Burns took turns in relief.
The seventh-place Cardinals were winless in four games going into the two-game series with SEEBA 2.
“We struggled in a couple of games so it’s good to bounce back with two wins,” Coffin said. “Our pitching was really good and defence was pretty solid too.”
The Cardinals have 10 games remaining in league play before provincials in August.
“We can definitely contend with the best teams in the league, it’s just a matter of staying consistent throughout the game rather than having one or two good innings,” said Mecir, 17, a Grade 11 student at St. Albert Catholic High School.
The next game is Wednesday against the second-place Sherwood Park Gold (14-2) at 7 p.m. in Sherwood Park.
