The St. Albert Cardinals surprised themselves by winning the first game of the season in the Norwest Midget AAA Baseball League.
Starting pitcher Tanner Karpinski gave up four runs in five innings and Triffon Tatarin cracked a bases-loaded triple, as the Cardinals rallied from a 4-1 deficit to defeat the Okotoks Dawgs Red 10-4 Sunday at Legion Memorial Park.
“The win felt pretty good actually because we didn’t really think we would take it,” Karpinski said. “It’s a new team this year with a bunch of new players who really haven’t had much chemistry together so we didn’t really think that would happen.”
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they couldn’t build off the win and lost the second half of the doubleheader 6-1.
Field manager C.J. Jayasekera was impressed how the Cardinals reacted in the face of adversity in the season opener.
“They jumped on us early but we fought back and then shut them down and that was the game. It was that never-give-up attitude that put us on top,” he said “There is something about this team with the energy they bring to the field and it showed in that game.”
Jayasekera described the win as a team effort.
“At key moments our pitchers made some quality pitches and our defence picked them up with some assists on the field, a double play in the middle or a little dive and throw. We also had some big hits,” he said.
Karpinski, 16, pitched strong enough to keep the Dawgs from expanding their early lead.
“I started pretty good but then I kind of got a little high on myself. I left a couple of pitches up and they took them for a ride, so I had to teach myself to get back in the zone again and keep throwing pitches down so they can’t really get a hold of them,” he said.
Karpinski also benefitted from some solid defensive support.
“Mat Brisson’s dive behind second base [for an out] was a nice play. It picked me up a little bit,” said the Grade 11 St. Francis Xavier High School student.
In the second game the Dawgs scored five runs in their first at-bat en route to their victory.
“We were a little high on ourselves after the win. We thought we would just go in there nonchalant and pull out another win,” said Karpinski, who batted 1-for-3 in the loss while splitting time between second and third base.
Jayasekera said the Cardinals were unable to refocus after the lunch break between games.
“Not to give excuses but our energy was down a little bit when we started,” he said. “Mentally we weren’t prepared and they put a five spot on us. One mistake happened and it was that old snowball effect and we didn’t know how to stop the bleeding, otherwise we shut them down for the last four innings.”
Jayasekera is confident the Cardinals will learn from their mistakes.
“The preparation part of it is something we’ve got to look at and these guys, from what I’ve seen, they’re willing to make those changes and use it as a learning experience,” he said. “We have to learn how to carry on our energy, but also how to control that energy too.”
The Norwest opener marked the first year to the day Jayasekera arrived from New Zealand and was introduced to the midget AAA team that was already picked for him to coach. A rash of arm injuries resulted in six straight losses before the Cardinals recorded their first win while going 2-9 in May. They finished 7-25 for ninth place in the Norwest standings and at provincials they were shut out twice in four losses.
“It’s definitely a good thing we got a win to start the season,” said Karpinski, one of seven returning Cardinals on the 16-player roster.
Tonight at 6:30 p.m. the Cardinals host Sherwood Park Gold at Legion park.
