Sultans set for first pitch

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/05/2016 (3310 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Now, if only the weather will cooperate for opening day on Sunday.

The Carillon Junior Sultans have been able to take advantage of glorious weather through the first 10 days of May, and longer, as the team has been able to practice outdoors much longer than some years in the spring to get ready for the Manitoba Junior Baseball League season.

Carillon opens their campaign Sunday in Winnipeg as they take on the St. Boniface Legionaires in a doubleheader at Whittier Park, with games going at 1:00 and 4:00 p.m.

Still on the road, the Sultans will also face the Winnipeg South Chiefs next Wednesday (May 18) at 7:00 p.m. at Charleswood Park.

The Sultans will again play their home games in Steinbach at A.D. Penner Park, but new for the Sultans this year is that some of their home games will be at Ile des Chenes this season, the hometown of manager Alex Grenier, the driving force behind Seine River Minor Ball and a major player not only with the Carillon Minor Baseball Association but with Baseball Manitoba as well. Grenier has been the coach of the Carillon Sultans AAA Midget team the past three years.

As a matter of fact the Sultans will play their home opener on Victoria Day (May 23) at Ile des Chenes as they host the Elmwood Giants in an afternoon doubleheader, with the first pitch going at 1:00 and 4:00 p.m.

Grenier has been the coach of the Carillon Sultans AAA Midget team the past three years. In addition to coaching the Junior Sultans this season, he is also managing the Eastman baseball team at this summer’s Manitoba Games in August in Steinbach and will be in charge of all baseball venues at next year’s Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg.

Not only is there a new manager at play with the Sultans this year, with Grenier taking over from Jason Epp, this year’s team will also be completely revamped with only two and possibly three returning players from last year’s squad. Back with the Sultans are Nick Grenier and Jared Esau. Meanwhile, standout Dustin Braun will likely be back with the Sultans after his commitment to play junior ball with a team in Fort McMurray this summer has obviously been put on hold on because of the evacuation of the city.

Rounding out the team this year will be a strong core of players, led by Troy Blad who has rejoined the Sultans after playing junior ball in Alberta as well as several players from the Seine River Red Nex, who won back-to-back Provincial Junior AA championships along with a strong group of first years juniors. Joining the Sultans will be Nick Kauenhofen, Noah Vogt, Phil Therrien, Jared Hunter, Matt Funk, Kolten Anderson, Dylan Anderson, Justin Tremblay, Tyson Smith, Riley Hunter and Noah Fournier.

Joining the MJBL this year are the Brandon Marlins on a trial basis, although they will not competing in the league playoffs.

The strength of the MJBL in recent years has been its parity as the Altona Bisons were the fourth different team in the past four years to win the league title.

New this year will be an all-star game June 25 at 5:00 p.m. at Shaw Park as it will be the MJBL’s rural teams vs. the MJBL’s city teams in a showcase of the league’s top talent.

The regular season schedule concludes July 20. The top four teams qualify for the post-season.