By JOE McFARLAND

They were the only team to punch their ticket to The Road to Okotoks straight out of the Prairie Qualifiers.

With a semi-final win over Team Saskatchewan, the Vauxhall Academy Jets put themselves into the final and, with the top three teams qualifying for the main event, it guaranteed their spot.

However, Mother Nature had other plans as she has seemingly had throughout the last month or so.

The other semi-final between AHP Academy and Gulls Prep was rained out, as was the final, putting into question who would get the call.

Eventually, Baseball Canada opted to give all four of the top teams from the Prairie Qualifiers the chance to vie for the inaugural Morneau Cup.

“I think we have a well-rounded group with some pitching depth, defense and some offensive production,” head coach Les McTavish told Alberta Dugout Stories.

“Long tournaments like this – it’s important to get off on the right foot with game one and so our focus will be on the DT Selects.”

The schedule is now set and the Jets will be looking to pick up where they left off.

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TREMENDOUS TWIRLERS

It probably comes as no surprise that McTavish believes the a major key to success in any tournament is strong pitching.

A former hurler himself, he was able to rely on the arm of Graham Thiessen in the Prairie Qualifier opener against Okotoks Dawgs White.

The Winkler, Manitoba native went six innings of two-hit shutout, striking out 10 in a 12-0 victory to set the early tone.

“There’s always some nerves and we’ve had an up-and-down season,” said slugger Hudson Nikkel, who hit two homers and drove in three to lead the offensive barrage.

“We knew this was our last chance to really prove what we had and I think all the guys knew that we had to give our best effort and I think that’s what we did.”

The Jets then had to use a little more depth in a 9-6 win over Home Run Academy (Winnipeg) and a 14-3 triumph over the Calgary Bucks.

Then the starters took centre stage again with Langley, B.C.’s Noah Simpson going the distance in a 2-1 loss to Gulls Prep.

Calgary’s Calum Andersen became the third Jet to throw a complete game in the quarterfinal matchup with Webber Academy, allowing just one run on one hit and three walks while striking out 10 in an 11-1 mercy win.

The combination of Ben Connolly, Josh Daloise and Will Zielinski handled the pitching duties against Team Saskatchewan in the semi-final, a 9-5 win to seal their spot in Okotoks.

“As a group, I felt we did a good job of letting the game come to us and didn’t press,” McTavish said. “At the end of the day, championships are won with pitching, defense and timely hitting. That’s exactly what our players did.”

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WINNING IN DIFFERENT WAYS

Given the Jets’ track record since inception nearly 20 years ago, don’t expect much to change as they head to Okotoks.

They have been among the favourites in virtually every tournament they have played in, even if they aren’t firing on all cylinders.

“I think our biggest key to success at regionals was being able to forget everything that happened earlier in the season, whether it was good or bad, and treat the regional as a fresh start from first pitch,” Andersen said.

“We played as a team and just wanted to have fun while the playing the game we all love.”

While the players have high expectations of themselves, they are also quick to step up for each other, which allows them to win in different ways.

Pitching might have been at the forefront during the Prairie Regionals, but the Jets also sported a vaunted offense with six players hitting over .300 while 11 drove in at least one run.

COMING BACK TOGETHER

This will also be a different way of ending summer for the Jets.

Players typically go their separate ways when the school year is done, with graduating players heading to college or the workforce while returning players get ready to return in September.

McTavish says they haven’t played or practiced since the Prairie Regionals, but has no doubt that they won’t miss a beat when they start the Morneau Cup round-robin against the DT Selects from Quebec on July 14.

“Our primary focus is to make sure we are healthy and in the right mindset out of the gate,” he said. “I know our guys will be excited to see each other after going home for the summer and hopefully that adds to our passion and desire to compete.”

The players, meantime, understand the significance of a major national tournament like The Road to Okotoks and want to do the community proud.

“I think it sets up an example for the years to come for Vauxhall,” Nikkel said. “Future players will see how we did and what to strive for.”

Andersen is looking forward to the experience of playing for the name on the front of the jersey against the best in the country.

“Winning the first Morneau Cup would mean the world to my teammates and I,” he said. “We all have the same goal: be the ones holding that trophy at the end of the day.”

The Jets are in Pool C with DT Selects, the Ontario Blue Jays and Victoria Eagles. You can get your tickets to The Road to Okotoks here or watch all games online here.