Since joining the South West Baseball League in 2014, the Elkhorn Expos have put together a roster that has been able to compete on the diamond – and also would likely be very successful on the ice.
For example, current National Hockey League defenceman Travis Sanheim of the Philadelphia Flyers and his twin brother Taylor, a current Expo, competed together for the local nine while playing for the Western Hockey League’s Calgary Hitmen. This season McAuley’s Jake Poole of the major junior WHL’s Kelowna Rockets is playing for Elkhorn. In addition, as in years past, the current Expos feature players who are playing or have played at the U18 AAA, Junior A, Junior B or senior hockey levels.
“Almost every one of us strap on the blades and fire it around,” said Elkhorn player Bryce Kyle, who noted that by playing more than one sport, “you develop and also learn new skills for different sports.”
Over the years many members of the Expos, who went 0-1 in the SWBL last week, have been baseball and hockey teammates. Kyle said that “helps us bond and become a better team and have that much more fun.”
Taylor Sanheim said that five current Expos, including himself, played last winter for the Miniota-Elkhorn C-Hawks, who repeated as the North Central Hockey League champions.
“We are all local players so it’s a pretty close group that likes to have some fun,” Sanheim said.
Virden Oilers
On Friday night, the Oilers (1-3, as of Monday) fell 7-2 to the Rivers Comets at home. Virden led 2-1 after the third inning. The Comets pushed six runs across home plate in the top of the fourth to take the lead for good. Clark Whelpton and Braeden Lewis drove in Virden’s runs. Jeff Peel took the loss on the mound. He pitched all seven innings and surrendered five earned runs on 12 hits. Virden collected six hits and committed two errors.
At home on Monday, Virden lost 8-2 to the Hamiota Red Sox. Complete stats were unavailable at the Empire-Advance deadline.
The Oilers host the Souris Cardinals (1-3) on Friday. The team makes the short trip to Elkhorn on Monday, July 20, to battle the Expos.
Elkhorn Expos
On July 12, the Expos (0-3) lost 23-9 to Souris. In Elkhorn, the two teams were tied 2-2 after the first inning. In the bottom of the third, the Expos took a 5-3 lead. The Cardinals scored five runs in the fourth, six in the sixth and nine in the seventh.
Souris collected 24 hits, while Elkhorn had 13. Josh Martin led the Expos with a home run and three runs batted in. Teammate Bradley Bowles also drove a pair of runs across.
The team was slated to host the Rivers Comets (4-0) on Wednesday, July 15 (after the Empire-Advance deadline). The Expos are in Deloraine (1-1) on Sunday and host the Oilers on Monday.
