Bulls and Gulls set to clash in pivotal match

By Lethbridge Herald on June 9, 2023.

Herald File Photo Lethbridge Bulls Nolan King hits a fly ball into right field during the team’s home opener against the Sylvan Lake Gulls at Spitz Stadium in this May 2022 file photo.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

While it wasn’t the ideal start to the weekend series between the Lethbridge Bulls and Sylvan Lake Gulls due the first game being cancelled due to rain on Friday at Spitz Stadium, both teams will hit the field for four straight against each other over the next four days in what could be a pivotal stretch against one another.

The Bulls would have liked to have rode the momentum of Thursday’s win over the Brooks Bombers.

“Yeah, you know, you always kind of want to keep the ball rolling there but you know it is what it is,” said head coach Chance Wheatley, on the cancelled game.

“(It’s a) part of the game and you’ve got to deal with it. And fortunately we both have an off day on Sunday, so we’re able to make it up right away and really you know not affect our pitching or anything like that too bad. So, you know, you never want to cancel a game, but it doesn’t work out too bad.”

The decision to cancel the game came early in the day on Friday and the Bulls took a full day off.

“So guys are able to you know kind of have a full day off here, which is nice with the schedule we have,” said Wheatley.

“So just letting guys kind of mentally recharge and recoup. You know we got a rare Friday night off.”

This could be a pivotal early season match up with both clubs tied for second place in the division with identical 6-3 records.

“I expect good games coming up here,” said Wheatley.

“We actually got (them)four straight as we head there on Monday (and) Tuesday as well. So you know what, you know at the end of the year, this might be a big series here coming up for kind of that second spot.”

Wheatley expects what they saw last year from the Gulls.

“You know since they’ve come into the league, they’ve done a really good job at recruiting pitchers,” said Wheatley.

“I know we’re going to see (Ty) Boudreau. He’s you know one of the best pitchers in the league. So that’ll be a good challenge for us and I know he’s off to a very good start here too. So yeah(we) expect to see some really good arms. Yeah that’s kind of what we’re thinking.”

The Gulls also have pitcher Josh Tucker, who Wheatley believes to be one of the best starters in the league as well.

The series will get underway tonight with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch at Spitz Stadium and Friday’s cancelled game has been rescheduled for Sunday afternoon at 5 p.m.

The scene will shift to Sylvan Lake on Monday and Tuesday.