Listowel Mosquito Season Underway, News, Mosquito ICBA, 2013 (Listowel Minor Baseball)

This Team is part of the 2013 season, which is not set as the current season.
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May 19, 2013 | Kyle Hollinger | 1344 views
Listowel Mosquito Season Underway
The Listowel Mosquitoes got their season started with a victory over the Guelph Royals, but fell short against to Kitchener Panthers and Stratford Indians.

For the second straight year the Listowel Mosquitoes have elected to participate in the slightly more competitive Inter-County Baseball league. The local team played three games over ten days, to start the season, and demonstrated some great positives but as expected they also have some room for improvement.

 Their first game saw a trip to Kitchener verse the Panthers. For many young Legionaires this was their first mosquito game, which meant live pitching (a big change from rookie ball & the pitching machine). Their lack of experience combined with the Panthers starting their ace could have made for a long Listowel night. However the local lads put up a valiant effort on the field but fell short at the plate only posting one hit. The pitching was led by Josh Jacklin and Sam Town, who combined for seven strike outs over five innings. The game, a pitcher’s duel, was close throughout the entire game as the Panthers held a 3-1 lead into the last inning. The Panthers came alive in the final inning where they eventually added seven insurance runs to claim a 10-1 victory to open the season, handing the Legionaires their first loss.

A week later the Legionaires hosted the Stratford Indians in their home opener. The weather was cool and crisp, but the home team came to play posting a 5-1 lead by the end of the third inning. The Legionaires started lefty, Connor McGrath and the Indians struggled to connect with his off-speed pitches.  McGrath gave way to Dylan Coombs and Town on the mound. The offense throughout the game was much improved with base hits by Chet Hudson, Seth Reading, Matsun Beirling, and Town. Unfortunately a walk and error filled inning helped the visiting Indians score six runs in the top of the final inning, which gave them a three run lead heading into the bottom half. After the first two outs were made by the Indians the bats came alive, the Legionaires pushed back with three hits and a walk, but unfortunately after a base hit by Reading, the tying run was thrown out at home plate for the third out. So despite the solid effort the hometeam fell just a little short, losing 10-9.

Later on that week, still hungry for their first win, the ICBA mosquitoes traveled to Guelph to face the Royals. The Royals were still undefeated in this early season and also played earlier that week. The Legionaires started their veteran left-hander in Nick Hamilton. Hamilton pitched a strong three innings only allowing 2 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks. The game was a true see-saw battle as it went from 1-1, to 2-2, to 3-3. The second half of the game saw a strong finish from the Leagionaires, generated by some solid pitching from Reading. Reading also pitched three innings but only gave up 1 run. The Royals inconsistent pitching helped Listowel deliver some timely hits in the second half of the game. The final inning saw four Legionaires cross home plate and finally delivering Listowel their first win of the year, 8-4. Leading by example at the plate were Emma O’Grady, Tyler McLean, Brett Smith, Hamilton, Town, and Reading all having some much more confident at bats.

The year has just begun and the local Mosquitoes have a lot of room to grow, but through the first three games there have already been some improvements, they just need to keep working.  The ICBA Mostquitoes have their next game this Monday where they host the winless Cambridge Cubs.

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