Some young local baseball players can’t wait for the final games of the season.
The Ponoka Mosquito squad concluded their regular season last week with a pair of losses, which included a heartbreaking 14-13 loss to Lacombe on Tuesday, June 14 at the Riverside ball diamonds.
“That one hurt a little, as we made a comeback in the bottom of the third only to lose by one,” said Ponoka’s head coach Greg Hutniak.
Despite that, the team finished the season with a record of 7-3 and will take part in the Central Alberta Baseball League playoffs slated to go next week. Hutniak explained the community house league system splits the mosquito division into a west and east side with the teams playing cross-over games for the playoffs. That will mean at least two games for Ponoka, according to Hutniak.
Regardless of how the season finishes, Hutniak is happy to have been able to spend time with the players and see them come together as a team as opposed to starting out as individuals.
“The kids have come so far,” he said.
“It’s been tremendous seeing them grow and become a team. I am so proud of all of them in how they played, their discipline, their spirit and how they have listened and learned. It’s been a great year so far.”
Ponoka’s first playoff opponent as well as the date, time and place for that game were not determined as of press time.