Carillon Sultans perfect to start the MJBL season

The Carillon Sultans have a chance to do something special this season. After claiming back-to-back Manitoba Junior Baseball League championships, the team is returning most of their players in the quest for a three-peat.

There is one major change, as Don Meilleur has taken over for Rick Penner as head coach.

“We’ve virtually brought back the entire team,” Meilleur said after a 9-4 win over Winnipeg South May 28.

“(We’re) potentially getting Cody Gunderson coming back after his college. Expectations are high but this is a really great group and we’re just happy to get going. We want to get another championship at the end of the year.”

Meilleur noted Rylan Penner and Tyler Plett were the graduating players, with three solid new players coming up from the 18U AAA ranks.

The Sultans were a perfect 7-0 to start the season, with a game after press time June 3.

“They know what’s at stake,” Meilleur said.

“There’s not a lot of guys who have played in this league who have a chance to win three championships in a row.”

The team appeared on track in the win over Winnipeg South, taking a 9-0 lead in the sixth inning before a late surge from the Wolves.

“Bats are a little bit quiet, but that’s to be expected at the start of the year,” Meilleur said when asked to evaluate where the team was through five games.

“Pitching’s been good, we’re pounding the zone. Defense has been really good. That’s our strong suit on this team. We don’t give up a lot of free bases.”

The perfect example of that quality defense came in the top of the fifth inning of the game against the Wolves May 28. With runners on the corners Winnipeg South tried to generate a run on the basepaths, attempting a delayed double-steal. Catcher Dayton Christensen sniffed it out, faking the throw to second to catch the runner on third in a rundown, evenually making the tag himself.

The play wasn’t over, as Christensen noticed the runner who had advanced from first to second moving along the basepath with no one appearing to be covering second — Only for centrefielder Joe Plett to come storming from the outfield to the infield to catch the runner napping with a tag-out.

“It’s not often you’ll see a centre-fielder creep in and get a guy picked off at second base, but these guys are just good ball players,” Meilleur said.

“They know what they’re doing out there.”

The Sultans will next be in action at A.D. Penner Park June 7 when they paly a double-header against St Boniface. Carillon took care of the second place-Legionaires during a double-header in Winnipeg May 31, winning 7-3 and 9-4.

Cedric Lagasse pitched a complete game to open the day, striking out seven. Ryan Powers capped off a bullpen effort from the mound, pichting three innings in the second game. Lead-off hitter Joe Plett picked up RBIs in both games, including three in the opener.