Miners welcome Cardinals to Spitz Stadium

By Lethbridge Herald on June 13, 2023.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

For the first time since before COVID, the Lethbridge Miners ‘A’ American Legion baseball team will welcome an American opponent north of the border tonight.

The Miners will welcome the Tri-County Cardinals out of Conrad, Mont., tonight for a double header at Spitz Stadium.

“Yeah, we’re really excited to have the American teams come up to Canada finally,” said Miners head coach Nicholas Ankermann.

“I know last year we were able to go down and play them at home. But it’s always nice to have our home crowd cheering us on against those teams from the States because they’re always good games and tough competition coming up.”

From what Ankermann has heard from the Cardinals coach, they have been splitting a lot of their series.

“I believe they split with Medicine Hat, split with Lewistown ,split with Great Falls and stuff,” said Ankermann.

“So you know that even  if you do get that first win against them that they’re going to be coming out strong to work hard to get the split. So we (have) got to know we (have) got to get on them early and bury them early and don’t give them a chance to come back.”

In what the Miners game plan is Wednesday night, Ankermann said staying relaxed and sticking to our game.

“(And) not trying do too much, sticking to our approaches, being aggressive, a lot of confidence out there , working ahead, pitching, being nice and relaxed on defence and hitting wise and just yeah being aggressive,” he said.

Once both teams hit the field, fans can expect gritty games.

“You got that kind of tension in between the two teams,” said Ankermann.

“Both teams are trying to go out there and yeah trying to come out on top and stuff.  But it’s… getting down to the nitty gritty, very aggressive (and) sometimes can get a little bit chirpy back and forth and stuff. But overall just a very high pace and high intensity games.”

The double header begins tonight at 6 p.m. at Spitz Stadium.

The Miners are off to a strong start to conference play with a 10-2 record.