Junior Sultans break in new jerseys with walk-off win
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This article was published 25/05/2024 (393 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
It was a perfect night for baseball as the Manitoba Junior Baseball League’s (MJBL) Carillon Sultans opened up their home schedule in Steinbach May 20.
The gathered crowd was rewarded after the planned opener was rained out May 17, as the Sultans debuted new jerseys in a 5-4 walk-off victory over the St Boniface Legionaires.
Luc Lagasse hit a perfect single over the head of St Boniface’s third baseman in the bottom of the seventh, letting Mason Hartung raise his arms in celebration as he rounded third, knowing there was no Legionaires player in the vicinity of the ball who could throw him out.
The victory moved the Sultans to 3-0 on the year after they won both games of a season opening showcase event in St James.
“It’s nice to get some tight games out of the way, and kind of feel that pressure moment,” team manager Rick Penner said.
“It’s a close game, it’s tight, they feel a little pressure, there’s a little more intensity at the plate and on the mound. That just makes for a fun win and a fun start to the season.”
Left-hander Linden Meilleur got the start for Carillon, and nearly threw a complete game, only needing Cedric Lagasse to record one out to finish the game. Meilleur had nine strikeouts in six and two-thirds innings, giving up four runs on seven hits.
Penner said he likes how Carillon will line up this season, predicting another year where no team is going to stand above the rest of the field in the eight-team MJBL loop.
“We’ve got 14 guys we can roll in different spots, and we’re going to be competitive night-in, night-out,” he said.
“Every night we’re going to have to come to play ready to go.”
As with most teams in the MJBL, Carillon is playing undermanned to start the season as high-level players finish out their college seasons across North America.
Last year’s rookie and defensive player of the year, Cody Gunderson, is set to join the team before the start of June. Gunderson has played the last two years at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, and is set to join North Carolina in division one of the NCAA next season. Gunderson led his team in slugging percentage this season.
Gunderson’s return couldn’t come sooner for the Sultans, after starting catcher Rylan Penner was forced from the game May 20 with what appeared to be a lower body injury after an awkward play at first base.
Also set to return is Ryan Powers, who spent the season with Okanagan College.
The game May 20 was the first chance to see the Sultans in their new primarily black jerseys, which feature white pinstripes. Penner said the players picked out the new jerseys, which are different compared to every other Sultans team in the region.
“It’s nice to get a nice walk-off win in the new unis,” he said.
A Sultans game against the St James As was played after press time May 22. Carillon are scheduled to play the Altona Bisons in a double-header May 26 at A.D. Penner Park. First pitches are set for 1 and 4 p.m.