SASKATOON – What’s the best way to remove the suspense from a baseball game?

How about a six-run first inning?

The Saskatoon Cardinals dropped a six-run bomb on the Moose Jaw Mallards in the top of the first inning of Fridays opening game of the Saskatoon Bantam AAA Tournament en route to a 14-7 victory.  With ace right-hander Bryden Gore on the mound for the Cardinals, the only question after the top of the first was how long the game would last. The Cardinals thought they might invoke the mercy rule when they stretched the lead to 10 after 4, but the Mallards kept delaying the inevitable, scoring just enough runs to keep the game going.

“It was huge to have that early lead,” Cardinals Head Coach Darren Crilly said. “It keeps the team loose and gives our pitchers and hitters a bunch of confidence”.  Due to the upcoming provincial qualifiers, the Cardinals were forced to rotate their pitchers giving Shawn Lewis and Tyler Stadnichuk time on the mound following Gore.  The Cardinals batters had a great day, scattering 12 hits over 6 innings.  The Cards next game is Saturday at 11:00 am when they take on the St. Albert Cardinals at Nutana #2.