Chiefs set to play ball

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This article was published 05/05/2011 (5644 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After at least five years away from the diamond, junior baseball is back in the Winnipeg South Chiefs organization.

The Chiefs have rejoined the Manitoba Junior Baseball League and will field a team when the league opens on Sunday that is anchored by seven players moving up from the successful AAA midget program.

“These guys know what to expect from each other and from us, it’s a real good group,” said Chiefs coach Bob Andruchuk. He and assistants Murray McLarty and Pat Turgeon have coached the core group for the past five years. “The guys are pretty excited, especially the young guys. They’re looking forward to playing with the big guys at the junior level and having the chance to stick together. In past years, our guys would have to get split up among the other teams.”

The MJBL will also include the defending champion St. Boniface Legionaires, the St. James A’s, the Elmwood Giants, the Pembina Valley Orioles, the Altona Bisons and the Carillon Sultans. The Interlake Blue Jays have been placed on leave for the 2011 season due to a shortage of players.

Chiefs player Ryan Kuhtey, a first baseman and outfielder, said he and infielder/pitcher Cole Southall have played on the same team every year in the Winnipeg South area since they were 12 years old. The group has been mostly together for the past five years.

“We’ve known each other so long, we’re finishing each other’s sentences,” laughed Kuhtey, 19, who will attend the University of Winnipeg this fall and will also play for the new Wesmen baseball team. “We’ve been such good friends for so long, it’s just nice to go to the park every day and see those guys. We’re different than most teams in that respect, we’re friends first and always playing for each other.”

Last season, the Chiefs midget team was provincial silver medallists and made it to the semifinals at the Western championship. In past seasons, Kuhtey and Southall have played for Chiefs teams that have won provincial titles three times, played at Westerns twice and competed at nationals three times.

“Moving up together to make this junior team happen, it’s definitely exciting, we know we might have a tough time being a new team but we’re going to give it our all,” Kuhtey said.

Kuhtey and Southall will be joined by Chiefs AAA midget teammates outfielder/pitcher Brett Doerksen, infielder/pitcher Giuseppe Grande, catcher Ryan Owczar, outfielder Drew Martin and shortstop Cody Benson to anchor the MJBL team.

The other team members include Shea Budge and Jamie Thordarson as well as Scott Dyck and Todd McMullan, who are both 21 and will have the opportunity to play their final year of junior baseball in their home area. Infielder Chris Hourihan, a former Chiefs midget player who played last season for the St. James A’s, was allowed to return to the Chiefs organization.

“It’s a big area so the graduating midget players in the past few years really had nowhere to go so it’s great for our league to have all these players,” said MJBL president Scott Neiles. “You certainly wouldn’t like to think that (players quit playing) but now kids in that area can be excited about playing in the organization to the top level.”

The Interlake Blue Jays suspended operations this season after a number of the expected returning players got jobs out of the area.

“We have offered up a one-year leave of absence with all players becoming free agents, with the opportunity to go back to Interlake should the team be resurrected, as per previous teams that have taken a leave,” Neiles said.

The league released a new schedule that has six of the seven teams in action on Sunday with games being hosted by the Elmwood Giants at Koskie Field, the Altona Bisons at Altona’s Centennial Park and the Winnipeg South Blues at Charleswood Park.

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca

Players to watch

Catcher Nathan Christiuk, Carillon: 2010 all-star, rookie of the year

Second baseman Cody Hunter, Elmwood: outstanding defensive player, all-star

Shortstop Josh Ginter, Pembina Valley: all-star, MJBL batting champion

Third basemen Angus Klassen, Altona: all-star

Outfielder Troy Voth, Altona: all-star

Utilityman Tyler Wiwchar, St. James: all-star

Designated hitter Elliot Desilets, St. James: all-star

Outfielder Mark Hildebrand, Pembina Valley: all-star