Hawks begin 2016 baseball season with big win over Panthers

2016 Pincher Creek Hawks High School Baseball Team

Christian Davis

Matthew Halton High School's Hawks baseball team played their first game of the 2016 season with a game against the Crowsnest Panthers at Sproule Field in Pincher Creek on the evening of April 12.  The field was in rough shape but the weather was relatively balmy, except for a stiff wind. The Hawks won the game in 5 innings, 12-2.  According to the league's rules, a team wins after 5 innings if they've established a 10 point or greater lead.


The teams were tied at two runs each after the first inning, which was followed by a no-score second inning.  The Hawks scored 10 runs in the third and held their lead to the end of the top of the 5th.  Tyson Goodreau performed well for the Hawks on the mound and at bat, throwing 14 strikeouts and no walks, earning two RBIs on one hit, and doubling in the third.  Two RBIs from Mitchell Zoratti and a two-run double by Deloy Mackenzie, all in the third, clinched the Hawk's definitive lead.  Scoring for the Panthers in the first inning were Chase Snider and Ty Anctil.  It was the second game and second loss of the season for the Panthers.

Tyson Goodreau pitching for the Hawks

Last year's Hawks coach Bryan Burns is back for his second year with the team, but is serving in an advisory capacity this season.  Hawks alumni Blair Goodreau has assumed the mantle of Head Coach, and Tristan Doell is Assistant Coach.  Blair was pleased with the team's performance, particularly since they haven't played since last season outside of practice.  "Everybody was hitting good and doing a good job."  The Hawks roster has swelled to 14 athletes this season, resulting in a (soon to be rectified) shortage of jerseys.  The team also includes athletes from St. Michael's High School.

The Hawks and Panthers are members of the Southern Alberta High School Baseball League, which is divided into two divisions for the regular season schedule and into two tiers for titles competition. The Hawks and Panthers are in the northwest division, which also includes Cardston, Claresholm, Fort Macleod, High River, Kainai, Magrath, Nanton, and Vulcan County,

Young baseball enthusiast Zander Jensen

Little League begins with practices on Monday April 18.  T-Ball, Coach, and Minors will be practicing at the Juan Teran diamonds and the Majors will be at Lions Park again this season.  For more information contact Manager Carrah Walter at pincherbaseball@gmail.com .  Thank Carrah for the stats etc. in this article.  Any mistakes are mine.

2016 High School Hawks roster:

3 Keith Hope-Doucher

4 Mitchell Zoratti

5 Deloy Mackenzie

17 Brandon Giesbrecht

18 Colter VanEe

20 Beau Walter

51 Nic Jordan

52 Tyson Goodreau

53 Jesson Luco

55 Jack Mitchell

Jaeger Hann

Tyran Holloway

Brandt Sabo

Isaac Webb

High School Hawks schedule:

Home Games (5;30 starts at Sproule Field, Pincher Creek):

• April 28 vs Fort Macleod 
• May 2 vs Kainai
• May 12 vs Cardston
• May 16 vs High River

Away Games (5:30 starts):

• April 19 at Magrath 
• April 20 at Vulcan 
• April 26  at Claresholm
• May 4 at Picture Butte
• May 10 at Nanton

Tier II Provincials May 27-28  at Cardston/Magrath