University of Calgary Dinos Fastball opened up the 2023 WCSA season on the road in Saskatoon where the defending WCSA champions came away with a 4-1 record on the weekend. Dinos played three games on Saturday and followed up with two games on Sunday before departing on the long bus ride back to Calgary.
First up for the Dinos was the Mount Royal Cougars where the Dinos dominated the game with a convincing 12-0 victory.  
The Dinos jumped out early as they scored seven runs in the first inning on the way to victory as they took advantage of a Cougar error that scored two runs, Emma Stephens, Madison Belden , Megan Stevens and Hayley Reid cashed in RBI's during the inning. 
Emma Stephens started the game for the Dinos and the right-handed pitcher went five innings giving up three hits and zero runs, striking out six and walking none. Gabriela Coderre went 4 for 4 at the plate as she had three doubles and a single. Dinos piled up 16 hits in the game. Stephens went 2-for-4 at the plate as the pitcher led the team with three runs batted in. Reid, Stevens, and Belden each collected multiple hits for University of Calgary. Dinos also showed patience at the plate as they amassed four walks on top of the 16 hits. 
 
Second game of the day saw the Dinos again firing on all cylinders as they took down the weekend host University of Saskatchewan with a big 11-3 win. Saskatchewan opened the scoring in the top of the second thanks to three singles, but the Dinos tied it up in the bottom of the inning. Saskatchewan again took the lead in the top of the third and again the Dinos tied the game on a single by Kelsey Kurek. From there it was all Dinos as they scored 8 unanswered runs starting in the 4th inning when Leah Weinkauf singled scoring two runs. Chloe Maher pur the game out of reach as she homered to left scoring three runs in the bottom of the 6th. 
Mia Pielak started the game on the mound for the Dinos as she went four innings giving up six hits and three runs, striking out one and walking one. Madison Belden pitched two innings of zero-run ball for University of Calgary in relief as she gave up one hit, striking out two and walking two. 
Dinos collected 12 hits in the game. Pielak, Gabriela Coderre, Emily Friedt, and Weinkauf each had two hits for the Dinos. Maher provided pop in the middle of the lineup, and led University of Calgary with three runs batted in. The second baseman went 1-for-3 on the day. University of Calgary turned one double play in the game. Dinos were sure-handed and didn't commit a single error. Hayley Reid made the most plays in the field with four.
 
Third game of the day saw the Dinos taking on SAIT Trojans at Joe Gallagher Stadium. Dinos still riding some hot bats came away with the victory taking down the Trojans by a score of 10-3.
Chloe Kinghorn drove in four runs as she had two hits during the game, but it was in the 4th inning that she made her mark on the game as she hit a grand slam to centre field. SAIT opened the scoring in the top of the first thanks to two singles and Kya Knight's  single cashed in two runners. Dinos again tied the game in the bottom of the third thanks to a double by Mia Pielak, and a single by Gabriela Coderre. 
Kate Gross started the game for the Dinos. The right-handed pitcher allowed four hits and three runs over three and two-thirds innings, striking out three and walking three. Madison Belden appeared in relief for the Dinos as she finished out the game. Dinos defence played well as they turned one double play.

Dinos opened their first game on Sunday against the University of Victoria, suffering their first loss of the weekend by a score of 10-6. Dinos took an early 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 1st as Gabrila Coderre and Chloe Maher each had an RBI. Dinos added one more in the 2nd on a Megan Stevens sacrifice fly. Vikes came back to tie the game, but Calgary again went ahead in the bottomw of the 4th as Leah Weinkauf laid down a sacrifice bunt and Elizabeth McEachern singled scoring a run. 
University of Victoria flipped the game on its head in the top of the sixth, scoring five runs on four hits to take a 9-6 lead.  
Emily Friedt and Stevens each collected two hits for Calgary.Stevens led the Dinos with two RBI as she went 2-for-3 on the day. Dinos had three stolen bases during the game.
 
In the final game of the weekend the Dinos were victorious against the University of Lethbridge by a score of 8-4. 
University of Calgary were the first to get on the board in the first when Elizabeth McEachern singled, scoring one run. Dinos added to their early lead in the top of the second inning after Emma Stephens scored after tagging up, and McKenna Regier singled, scoring a run. In the 3rd inning Madison Belden homered to left field, and Megan Stevens singled, scoring a run. Belden opened the game for the Dinos and the right hander allowed four hits and two runs over five innings, striking out three and walking two. Stephens and Kate Gross each appeared in relief for the Dinos.
Again the Dinos bats were hot during the game as the combined for a team total of 18 hits in the game. Chloe Maher, Stephens, and Leah Weinkauf each collected three hits. Stevens led the team with two RBI. The right-handed hitter went 2-for-5 on the day. Mia Pielak and Regier each collected multiple hits for Calgary. Dinos defence was sure-handed in the field and didn't commit a single error. Stephens had the most chances in the field with 11.
 
Head coach Neal Harlos said of the weekend,  " I'm very happy with the way the team played this weekend. It's the start of the season and we still have some kinks to work out, but the team is coming together nicely and everyone is contributing and the rookies are all looking good." The team batted .417 on the weekend with a OBP of .464. Harlos added " if we can keep our bats hot and continue to improve the other areas of our game we will have a great season."

Next up for the Dinos is a three day long weekend at Shouldice diamonds in Calgary.
Go Dinos!