MOOSE JAW — After a night that saw a couple of blowout games, things were far closer for Saskatchewan teams in Western Canadian Baseball League action on Saturday.
The Swift Current 57’s picked up their first win of the season by hanging on for a 10-9 victory over the Moose Jaw Miller Express while the Saskatoon Berries remained undefeated with a 7-6 win over the Weyburn Beavers and the Regina Red Sox rallied to defeat the Medicine Hat Mavericks 12-9.
Swift Current 10, Moose Jaw 9
The two teams found themselves in as back and forth a contest as could be at Ross Wells Park, culminating with Swift Current scoring a pair of runs in the eighth to take a 10-7 lead. Moose Jaw scored one in their half of that inning, though, setting up a dramatic finish.
After a lead-off walk to Jimmy Kurtz in the bottom of the ninth, Jacob Mraz would double to centerfield, leading to Kurtz being cut down at home. Two batters later, a Michael Rago single brought home Mraz to make it a one-run game, and a Ben Waliczek single would put the tying run in scoring position with two out.
That’s where the rally would end, though, as Brody Nanini would get Thomas Soto to ground out to second to end the game.
Keagan Knowler went 2-for-5 with a home run, three runs scored and two RBI for Swift Current, while Jake Hiromoto was 3-for-4 with a homer, two runs and two RBI. Hudson Unger also crossed the plate twice, Jake Roggensack knocked in a pair.
Kurtz ended up going 2-for-4 with a home run and three runs scored for the Express, while Brayden Bunnelll had a three-run homer as his lone hit. Mraz was 3-for-5 with a run scored, Rago had two hits and knocked in a pair.
Neither team’s starter lasted more than a couple innings, turning the game into a bullpen battle. Zachary DeSylva was most effective for Swift Current, allowing two runs on four hits in four innings of work, Nanini tossed the final 1 ⅓ to earn the win. No Moose Jaw pitcher went more than 2 ⅓., with Gio Lugo, Hayden Simon and Jake Hicks all allowing a pair of runs apiece in the middle innings.
Swift Current improves to 1-2, Moose Jaw falls to 2-1.
Saskatoon 7, Weyburn 6
After Saskatoon took mercy-rule wins over the Beavers in the first two games of the season, things were far closer this time around, but the Berries would rally late for the victory.
With Weyburn leading 6-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Berries would score a pair in the seventh before Nash Nichols knocked home Nathan Houston with the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth.
Nick Stinson led the Saskatoon offence with a 4-for-4 outing that included a pair of doubles, two runs and four RBI. Gael Salinas was 2-for-4 with a run scored, Brock Laird crossed the plate twice.
Joe Madill hit a solo home run as his lone hit of the night for Weyburn and also crossed the plate twice while Brayden Mayencourt also had a pair of runs scored. Jared Kramp had a two-run double, Austin Boylan picked up a pair of hits.
Reliever Dallen Rude was Saskatoon’s most effective pitcher, allowing three runs, one earned, on two hits over three innings of work. Tanner Hosick tossed two scoreless innings to close out the game and pick up the win.
Zach Raichel started for Weyburn and allowed four runs on six hits over six innings, striking out four. Logan Kinter tossed the final 1 ⅓ and took the loss.
Saskatoon is now 3-0 on the season, Weyburn remains winless at 0-3.
Regina 12, Medicine Hat 9
Another night, another Red Sox comeback — and this time it resulted in a win.
After falling behind 7-0 through the first four innings, Regina would get back within four over the next two frames before pouring six runs across the plate in the sixth to take a 9-8 lead. They’d never trail again, going on to their three-run victory.
Brady Bye had another big game for the Red Sox, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, two runs scored and six RBI. Justin Simard hit a grand slam in Regina’s big inning for his lone hit of the game, Alex Roux crossed the plate three times, Mason Canter and Raine Kreklewetz scored two runs each.
Carter Roth was 2-for-6 with a double and three RBI for the Mavericks, Blake Dale went 2-for-6 with a triple and two runs. Carson Chan also hit a three-bagger and crossed the plate twice, Nate King was 3-for-5 with a run scored, Josh Stark scored a pair.
Daniel Crabtree got the start for Regina and allowed seven runs on seven hits over four innings before Zander Oudie-Senger, Jake Fowler and David Gordon combined to allow only two runs over the final five innings. Oudie-Senger picked up the win, Gordon the save.
Diego Centella started for the Mavericks and allowed three runs on three hits while striking out five over five innings. Takeo Cervantez allowed all six runs in the sixth and took the loss.
Regina is now 2-1 on the campaign, Medicine Hat drops to 1-2.
Only two games involving Saskatchewan teams are on tap Sunday, with Weyburn at Saskatoon (1 p.m.) and Medicine Hat at Regina (2:05 p.m.)
