Medicine Hat’s McCoy Colts baseball team off to 3-1 start despite youthful roster

Colts baseball player Liam Cunningham has been catching for Nixon Kunkel since last year.

“[He’s] just an overall great catcher, knows how to block a ball, frame it well, just does everything good,” Kunkel told CHAT News at a Tuesday night game against Eagle Butte high school.

“We just have good chemistry,” Cunningham added.

“Nixon’s a great pitcher and I love catching for him, it’s fun.”

Whatever routine they had going Tuesday night at Athletic park did the trick.

The Colts faced Eagle Butte in a double-header, where Kunkel started the game striking out seven batters over 3.1 innings, leading his team to victory.

Offensively, Cunningham went two for two including a double and four RBI’s.

Following another win later that night, the Colts brought their season record to 3-1.

Head coach, Rob McDonnel is happy the early-season results.

“If we’re working hard and we want to learn and we’re getting better and we’re having fun while we’re doing it, then that’s a success,” McDonnel said.

The Colts are the only JV team in their league, consisting of grade 9’s and 10’s from both McCoy and Notre Dame Academy.

“It’s a younger group, maybe not as experienced as if you have a great 11 and 12 group,” McDonnel said.

“There’s lots to learn, lots of areas to improve upon for sure and we don’t have a lot of time to do that.”

The Colts started practicing indoors in March and have six more regular season games and a tournament in Brooks before playoffs start.

“I’m playing with very talented players and I’m really excited to play with them this year and see them grow and get better,” said Cunningham about his team.

“I think it will just be an awesome season and yeah, I hope we can go far and hopefully win provincials.”

The Colts next game is Saturday in Okotoks for a double-header against Foothills Composite High School.

by Lisa Parent

Medicine Hat’s McCoy Colts baseball team off to 3-1 start despite youthful roster

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