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Weyburn Review, Weyburn, Saskatchewan -- June 30, 2021
sports
Veteran Rider LaBatte sitting out 2021 CFL season
Firing in a strike pitch
Review Photo 2949 – Greg Nikkel
Weyburn Iron Pigs pitcher Adam Ziegler threw a strike to a batter from the Regina Dodgers, in the opening frame for the Iron Pigs first game of their summer season in the Qu’Appelle Valley Baseball League. The game was held on Friday evening at Tom Laing Park, and the Weyburn squad were edged out 2-0 by the visitors in a pitchers’ duel.
Weyburn Iron Pigs split season openers The Weyburn Iron Pigs opened their summer season in the Qu’Appelle Baseball League with a pair of home games over the weekend at Tom Laing Park, and split the results with a loss to Regina and a win over Moose Jaw. In their season opener on Friday night, the Iron Pigs hosted the Regina Dodgers and had a pitchers duel, with the visitors coming out on top 2-0. Adam Ziegler was on the mound for the first
three innings and allowed two runs and three hits, with three strike-outs. James Giroux was on for the next three innings and had four strike-outs, and Luke Niemegeers pitched for the last inning and had two strike-outs. The Dodgers opened with a run in the first inning, and added one in the third. The Iron Pigs had a late rally in the seventh inning and had the tying run on base, but weren’t able to score. Single hits were re-
corded by Niemegeers, Will Morris and Kelton Hoium. On Sunday night, the Iron Pigs hosted the Padres from Moose Jaw and defeated the visitors by a score of 10-3. The home team had two strong innings, with four runs scored in both the third and fourth innings, and two more in the sixth, while Moose Jaw got their three runs in the fifth inning. Evan Orsted was on the mound for four innings, and allowed no hits or runs
while recording eight strikeouts. Cam Evans pitched for an inning and allowed one hit and three runs with one strike-out, and Eric Evans pitched for 1.2 innings, and got four strike-outs. Troy Miller had three hits, three runs and two RBIs, Mike Onstad had two hits, one run and three RBIs, Kelton Hoium had a hit and two RBIs, Ziegler had three hits, two runs and one RBI, and Evan Schultz had two runs and two hits, with one RBI.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders will be without veteran offensive lineman Brendon LaBatte for the 2021 CFL season. Riders general manager Jeremy O’Day said LaBatte has opted out for the year but is not retiring. “We’re dealing with a unique set of circumstances and it’s not a normal year with all the regulations that we’re going to have to do,” the GM said on a video call Monday. “(LaBatte’s) definitely not planning on retiring. He just, with all the rules and regulations and the stuff that he has going on in his own personal life, he’s decided that he’s not going to play under the current circumstances that we’re facing.” O’Day said he spoke with LaBatte over the weekend and discussed the possibility of him returning to the Riders this year if the CFL loosens restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. “He did leave the door open if things begin to relax and it gets back to a little bit closer to normal that he would consider (playing) at that time,” O’Day said. “Again, he’s not decided to never play football again. He’s just decided that under the circumstances, he needs to do what’s best for him and his family.” LaBatte, 34, played just six games for Saskatchewan in 2019 after returning from injury. The CFL cancelled the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. T h e s i x - f o o t - f o u r, 320-pound native of Weyburn, was originally picked sixth overall by Winnipeg
in the 2008 draft and played four seasons with the Blue Bombers before signing with the Riders in 2012. LaBatte is a six-time CFL all-star and was named the league’s most outstanding offensive lineman in 2013, the same season he won a Grey Cup with the Roughriders. In December, he signed a new deal that would see him play with Saskatchewan through 2022. “Obviously, it’s not super easy to replace a guy of (LaBatte’s) status, but every time a door closes, another door opens and it’s an opportunity for one of our other guys,” O’Day said. Saskatchewan’s starting quarterback Cody Fajardo said that LaBatte will be missed not only on the field, but in the locker room. “To have an all-star guard and a guy with a lot of experience, especially for a firsttime starting quarterback, it’s huge. So that will be sorely missed,” said Fajardo, who threw for 4,302 yards and 18 touchdowns with the Riders in 2019. Several CFL players have stepped away from the game in recent weeks, including Ottawa Redblacks receiver Brad Sinopoli, who announced his retirement last week. Saskatchewan’s all-star linebacker Solomon Elimimian called it a career in February and quarterback James Franklin announced his retirement in April after signing a one-year deal with the Roughriders. Meanwhile, the Roughriders have signed quarterback Paxton Lynch, a first-round pick (26th overall) of the NFL’s Denver Broncos in 2016.
Weyburn U18 Beavers split doubleheader
Striking home a goal
Review Photo 3095 – Greg Nikkel
Weyburn soccer player Lauryn Chicoine made her final kick to send the ball into the net as teammate Madison Macpherson watched nearby, during a game versus Moose Jaw at Weyburn Soccer’s Family Soccer day on Saturday. The event enabled all age levels of Minor Soccer to play, in games set throughout the day at Jubilee Park as a windup for the spring season.
The Weyburn U18 AAA Beavers split a doubleheader with the Parkland Expos on Saturday at Tom Laing Park, losing the first game 6-3 and winning the second by a score of 6-4. In the opening loss, Sutter Balog had two hits, Ryker Watt had one RBI and Seth Deis had three quality-at-bats. The Beavers scored one run in each of the first three innings, while the Expos had three runs in the first inning and single runs in the second, fifth and sixth innings. Mclaren Keslering was on the mound for two innings, as was Rylan Erb, with Erb recording seven
first-strike pitches and Keslering had six. Diezel Sorenson recorded two strike-outs. In the win, the Beavers scored four runs in the second inning and two more in the fourth to secure the victory. Dallen Oxelgren had three hits and two RBIs, and recorded three qualityat-bats. Oxelgren was also on the mound for two innings along with Wyatt Godlonton, and Godlonton notched seven first-pitch strikes and four strike-outs, while Kale Williamson had six first-pitch strikes and Sutter Balog had two strike-outs.
Red Wings renew contracts for coach/GM and assistant coach By Sabrina Kraft The Richardson Pioneer Weyburn Red Wings have renewed the contracts for Rich Pilon, head coach and general manager, and Cody Mapes, assistant coach. It will be the third year for both Pilon and Mapes to be working with the team. “Hopefully we can get things rolling soon, depending on the situation,” said Pilon. He said that the competitive camp and exhibition games will be a chance for coaches to focus on learning about the team, and reacquainting themselves with players. “We will need to learn about our team in a span of
a few months. But players will either put themselves into a job, or play themselves out of a job,” said Pilon. After having their season halted last year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, a lot of time will be put into skill development when players return to the ice. “We have to make sure that we see the results from the players in practice, or in games.,” said Mapes. “But right now, for our players, they have to play catch up, because they are a year behind opportunities that their counterparts in the States had.” “We have to make sure
to optimize their playing time, so they can make up for that lost time. We have to make sure it is good, quality competitive play,” added Mapes. Pilon said that the consistency of having Mapes back as assistant coach, along with other support staff on the bench, is a good thing. “We know how to talk to each other, and the players know that it is a constant message, when we talk to them.” The coaching staff, and the players, are hoping to see lots of fans back in the seats at Crescent Point Place for their home opener.
Coach, assistant coach return to Red Wings bench
Rich Pilon (left), head coach and general manager, and Cody Mapes, assistant coach were signed to return to the bench in the 2021-2022 SJHL hockey season. Photos -- Courtesy Weyburn Red Wings