For 30 years, the Mallard Stars have been travelling across the country to play fastball. That includes playing local games and they have also taken part in several Canadian Native Fastball Championships.
Last year the Stars joined the Dauphin men's fastball league for its inaugural season and they became the league's first champions.
As a new season started earlier this month, the Stars are right back on track to defend their title. They won the Dauphin men's tournament that was held earlier this past weekend in Dauphin. They didn't lose a game at the event.
The team didn't have much time to celebrate as they were set to begin their regular season on Monday, and they did so on a good note. Behind a very strong pitching performance from Parkland Ranger Hayden Lacquette, the Stars kicked things off with a 5-1 win.
"We've really invested in our youth. We have some of our nephews that are coming up and they are young," said Terrance Lacquette, Coach/Player. "We've brought them in slowly and now we're looking for some of them to have bigger roles this year. They're playing with confidence and things are working out."
After a busy start to the season, Mallard now gets a little bit of a break. They won't play another league game until Monday, May 27 when they challenge Showtime.
The first half of the regular season ends on July 3 against Ogidajiw. With all of the success the team has had over the years and into this season, the Stars once again look like they will be a force to be reckoned with.
"We're a pretty tight-knit group and we know exactly what each person is capable of doing," added Lacquette. "We try to compete as best as we can, but we also try to have a lot of fun as well."
Although it's not on their immediate radar, the Stars will take part in the Canadian Native Fastball Championships from August 1-4 at John Blumberg Complex in Headingley.
They haven't reached the top at the tournament yet, but they're looking forward to the challenge of achieving just that this year.
"It really all boils down to getting a top end pitcher. We have some young arms on our team and I don't think they're experienced enough to win that tournament," said Lacquette. "I think we're one elite pitcher away from winning it. We're really satisfied with what we bring defensively and our sticks offensively.”
Mallard Stars Dauphin men's fastball league schedule:
Monday, May 27 - Showtime.
Monday, June 3 - BigMan.
Monday, June 10 - Wayway A's.
Monday, June 17 - Crane Bay Knights.
Monday, June 24 - Sko Giants.
Wednesday, July 3 - Ogidajiw.
