The host team for the Baseball Alberta bantam competitive Tier I provincial championship is going for the gold this weekend at Legion Memorial Park.
“We’re really excited. We have that hometown advantage,” said pitcher Colton Timmer, 15, of the St. Albert Cardinals.
Today in pool B round robin action, the Cardinals battle South Jasper Place Black at 9 a.m. and Grande Prairie at 3 p.m.
Acme, Strathmore and Red Deer are grouped in pool A.
If there are no tiebreakers Sunday, the consolation final is 9 a.m., the semifinals are 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. and the final goes at 6 p.m.
Visit www.baseballalberta.com for the provincial draw.
“There are some good teams out there but we can come up to the challenge and beat them,” Timmer said. “We just have to play all seven innings and never give up no matter what.”
Field manager Ross Yaremchuk said the Cardinals have posted victories against every team in the tournament except Strathmore, winners of the Doc Plotsky Memorial Tournament by an 8-7 score over the Red Birds in the final.
“I’m expecting the players will play hard and represent St. Albert really well,” Yaremchuk said. “They’re a good group of kids who try really hard.”
The Cardinals are 21-10 in league, exhibition and tournaments, but in recent weeks have struggled putting wins together.
“We’re hoping teams forget about us and we fly under the radar after those losses,” Yaremchuk said.
Timmer believes the St. Albert Early Bird champions play their best at tournaments.
“We get together as a team and become one,” he said.
The majority of the Cardinals are second-year bantams. As a team they have put all three phases of the game together.
“Pitching has been key for us, as has our defence and the bats,” Yaremchuk said.
Timmer said the Cardinals raised their level of play since the start of the season.
“Our batting and our defence has really improved. So has our pitching. I know I’ve improved a lot,” said the right-handed thrower.
