Don’t underestimate the Lloydminster Prairie Pirates going into the Baseball Alberta 18U AA Tier 6 championship this weekend in Leduc.
Read more: U18 AA Pirates go to bat as provincials approach
That’s the message from Pirates overager Keenan Chappell as his hometown club takes a shot at the provincial title.
“When provincials come around, I think the boys are going to get their A game together,” said Chappell, the team’s pitching ace and top hitter.
Keenan Chappell has been a standout this summer in his overage year with the Lloydminster 18U AA Prairie Pirates.
John MacNeil Meridian Source
“I think we’ll be a completely different team. Other teams won’t expect it. We’re going to come hard, try to take early leads, keep the energy up and help our pitcher out as best we can.”
Lloyd is among five teams entered in the tournament, which runs Friday (July 25) through Sunday (July 27).
Although the Pirates (9-16) have had their share of losses this season, their most recent outing was a 10-3 victory over Edmonton-based SWEMBA White Sox Black last Saturday at Burma Park, near Coronation.
SWEMBA just happens to be Lloyd’s first opponent in the provincial championship, as they face each other at 3 p.m. Friday.
In their other round-robin games, the Pirates play twice Saturday (at 9 a.m. against the Fort Saskatchewan Red Sox and at 3 p.m. versus the host Black Gold 47s Black of Leduc) and at 9 a.m. Sunday against the Lacombe Dodgers.
The top two teams in the 10-game preliminary round advance to the championship game at 3 p.m. Sunday.
“It definitely helps, with provincials coming up, to get the sticks back warm again, because we had a real bad cold streak where we weren’t hitting the ball great (and) we weren’t doing a lot great,” Chappell said.
But decisive wins on each of the past two Saturdays are cause for optimism.
Those winning ways have been a big boost mentally, especially the victory that broke a five-game losing streak, said the team’s elder statesman.
“It’s really helped and given the boys some confidence for doing everything — their fielding, their bats — and the energy in the dugout is good after these big wins.”
By design, the Pirates have played a busy schedule for most of July. That was difficult to do for parts of June, with high school exams and graduation
activities taking precedence.
“Having that break, we came back cold,” Chappell said. “I don’t think the boys were doing much training during the break, and it showed, but we’ve played much better lately.”
Lloyd upped its game frequency this month, complementing its Alberta regular-season action with weekday exhibition games against Saskatchewan teams like Macklin and Edam.
DOUBLE DUTY
The ball season has been even more hectic for Pirates’ pitchers Chappell and Kobe Heck, as both multi-position players have also played senior with the Lashburn Cardinals of the North Saskatchewan River Baseball League.
In the past few weeks, Lashburn has been immersed in NSRBL playoff action, knocking off the Oil City Ducks in the quarter-finals before falling to the Unity Cardinals in the semifinals. That best-of-three semi just ended
Monday night (July 21) as Unity won 6-4 to post a 2-0 sweep.
Switching back and forth between leagues, Chappell and Heck haven’t missed a beat in providing the Pirates with skill and leadership.
“Senior ball definitely helps,” said the six-foot-three and about 180 pound Chappell. “With higher velo and being able to read the ball out of the hand quicker.
“I’ve definitely noticed an improvement in my game, with that senior ball being a factor.”
He usually played centre field with Lashburn.
Along with his strong pitching performances in 18U AAA play, Chappell has been on a torrid pace at the plate, hitting multiple home runs during the July surge.
In recent weeks, the Pirates have been without the services of valuable pitcher/first baseman Keenan Rohs, who was sidelined with hip and hand injuries. They were holding out hope that Rohs might be able to make a
comeback for provincials, Chappell reported.
FAMILY BASEBALL TIES
One of the promising young players with the Pirates is Chappell’s half-brother, Ryden Nixon, an everyday catcher who has been consistent at the plate, posting a solid on-base percentage this month. Nixon turns 16 in August.
“We look out for each other a little more, with me and Ryden being family,” said Chappell, 18. “But, on the field, I see him as a teammate more so than as a brother.
“I see everyone as a brother on the field, though. I care for all of these (Pirates) guys as I would for Ryden. It’s all love from here.”
Nixon also has a first cousin on the team in outfielder Bryson Early.
Chappell’s younger brother Lucas played at the top 18U level this summer with the Sherwood Park Dukes of the Baseball Alberta Elite League (BAEL).
This coming school year, Lucas is bound for Going Yards Baseball Academy in Saskatoon, before returning home to Lloyd to finish his Grade 12 year at Holy Rosary High School.
Keenan Chappell is a 2024 graduate of Holy Rosary. Between his first and second years of Lakeland College studies, he’s working full time this summer for Exhaust Masters in Lloyd.
“I’m busy,” he said with a smile. “It’s hard work sometimes and it’s not always easy to get away from work for ball.”
He has switched from his apprenticeship training to mechanic from electrician and plans to continue those studies this coming school year at Lakeland’s Vermilion campus.
Vermilion is the hometown of two of the most effective Pirates, middle infielders (and brothers) Callum and Thad Molsberry.
In its early game last Saturday, Lloyd lost 6-2 to the Coronation Royals, who compete in the Tier 5 provincials this weekend at Slave Lake.
Read more: U13 Liners cap Lloyd’s golden hat trick
