The Cardinals opened the season with a 4-1 loss to the Saskatoon A’s.  The Cardinals only run came when Reid Brittnell scored from first on an RBI double by Nolan Machibroda.  The A’s then scored 4 unearned runs over the next 6 innings to win the game.  The Cardinals, who outhit the A’s 4 to 1, had a chance to win it in the seventh, but stranded three runners.  Bryden Gore started the game on the mound for the Cards going 2 innings with 5 K's, 0 BB's and 2 Hit Batters.  Shawn Lewis took over in the 3rd with 2 K's, 3 BB's and 2 Runs, 1 unearned.  In the 4th inning Ryan Crilly gave up an unearned run with 2 BB's and 3 K's.  RJ Vinding, had one of his best games as a Cardinal pitcher with 3 K's in the 5th with 0 BB's and 0 Runs.  Garrett Krawchuk gave up an unearned run in the 6th with 2Ks and 2 BBs.  Reid Brittnell finished the game with 3 Ks in the 7th.  Brittnell also added some excitement to the game when he towered a foul ball into A's Coach Terry McNeely’s white truck which was parked in the Lions Arena Parking Lot.

Offensively, the Card’s were led by Nolan Machibroda who was 2 for 3 with an RBI.   The Cardinals other hits came from Bryden Gore, Reid Brittnell and RJ Vinding who were all 1 for 3.  Vinding had two stolen bases, while Gore, Brittnell and Machibroda each had one.

Although the Cardinals lost the game, Head Coach Darren Crilly was nothing but smiles.  “I think we played very well. We are starting 7 first year kids on this team and none of them looked out of place.  Our goal for this season is to compete in every game and I think we showed that we can.  The A’s are supposed to be one of the top teams in this league and we played them hard.”  The Cardinals have the cages booked at the field house tomorrow (5:00 to 6:30 pm) before hitting the road for a double header in Humboldt on Saturday (game time 2:00 pm).