Pitching, hitting and good defence wins ball games.
The Sask Five 18UAAA Giants proved that with an exclamation point in their 9-0 win over the Saskatoon Giants at Mocon Field in Martensville on Wednesday, June 28.
After two scoreless innings Sask Five got on the board in the third. Pitcher Maddix Mathies helped his cause by driving in the first run of the game with a single; scoring Oakland Flodell, who hit a double and was moved over to third on a single by Jace Daku.
Ben Hosegood’s double scored Daku. Lucas Viden would earn an RBI on a ground-out, scoring Mathies to give Sask Five a 3-0 lead.
They would add four more runs in the bottom of the fifth, thanks to singles by Jace Daku, Ben Hosegood, Lucas Viden and Bill Hosegood.
Mathies drew a walk and scored and Will Simair drove in a run with a double to the outfield fence.
In the bottom of the sixth inning the Sask Five Giants continued their hitting spree as Kleyson Gabruck led off with a walk and Oakland Flodell, Jace Daku and Ben Hosegood would hit singles, making the score 9-0 going into the seventh.
In total the SaskFive Giants had 14 hits. In the field they had no errors and got outs with spectacular defensive plays.
Willis Simair made a highlight reel diving catch in the outfield.
Catcher Jace Daku ended the fourth inning by gunning down a Saskatoon runner trying to steal second base.
Maddix Mathies was masterful working the plate with a combination of a two seam cutter, change-up and curveball. In the complete game shutout he threw 95 pitches, striking out nine batters with zero walks.
Mathies felt the outing had been a success by relying on the basics.
“Just trying to throw strikes and getting outs.
“With the run support it feels a lot better,” said Maddix,”You just go at batters, just throw strikes.”
Maddox felt this was the best game the team has played so far this season.
“The season started slow but we have been playing better lately and will look to continue that,” he said.