The Dauphin Clippers baseball team is on a role heading into their next two competitions, but they're not taking them lightly.
Last Wednesday's win against Vincent Massey was the first for Bryan Hannibal during his four years coaching the Clippers. And a big win it was, the Clippers peppered the Vikings 12-1.
Despite the large margin of victory, Hannibal remained humble when asked how it felt to take down an opponent his team failed to beat over four previous seasons.
"It was a pretty satisfying feeling, and the same for some of the players." Some of the players have joined Hannibal is losing to the Vikings year after year. "We've always been competitive with them and had tight games but to finally pull off a win, and a big win, was quite satisfying."
With a win like that, this group stands out as one of the best Clippers baseball teams in recent memory.
"We've been working on it for the last four years," said Hannibal. "This group is starting to come together. Our bats are coming alive and everything just seems to be working for us."
Things certainly have been coming together for the Clippers. They've outscored their opponents 45-10 in their last three games. A big turn around from their first game in which they were doubled up 16-8 after a 7th inning where Major Pratt drove in 10 runs.
"We got into a panic," explained Hannibal about their loss in their first game."We overreacted and tried to force plays. I think we learned from it. We know that we're a talented ball club. We just have to remain calm and do the little things right"
On Wednesday the Clippers travel to Hamitoa to take on the Huskies.
"Wednesday's a big game for us, I haven't seen them play but in the past few years they've been a pretty strong team and we definitely can't take them lightly," admitted Hannibal.
"It'll put us in a good position for finishing either first or possibly second in the north division, it's definitely a must win game for us."
Thursday the Clippers host the Neelin Spartans.
"They've been having some fairly close games and last year they were quite a young team. Our next four games we can't take lightly, any game, we've gotta be competitive and be ready to play some ball."
Hannibal put out a call for more home fans to be at the Clippers games.
"It's entertaining baseball. They guys seem to respond better when there's some noise and support."
The Clippers next home game is Thursday against Neelin at 4:00pm.
