MOOSE JAW — Another night, another couple of wins for the top teams in the Western Canadian Baseball League’s East Division.
The Moose Jaw Miller Express saw their record atop the East improve to a league-best 29-11 with a 9-5 win over the Energy City Cactus Rats, while the Saskatoon Berries sit a game back of first at 28-12 after downing the Medicine Hat Mavericks 17-5.
It was a good night in general for Saskatchewan’s teams, with the Regina Red Sox taking an 8-6 win over the Lethbridge Bulls hours after releasing manager Rye Pothakos and the Weyburn Beavers taking a 13-3 win over the Brooks Bombers. One other contest saw the Fort McMurray Giants down the Swift Current 57’s 11-8.
As a result, the race for the final playoff spot sees Regina in fourth with a 16-23 record, a half-game up on Weyburn at 15-23 and 2 ½ games up on Swift Current at 13-25
Moose Jaw 9, Energy City 5
The two teams saw themselves tied 5-5 heading into the later innings, where Moose Jaw would take the lead for good in the sixth and then add three more insurance runs in the eighth.
Garryn Plummer went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a pair of RBI for Moose Jaw while Chris Franks was 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI and Thomas Soto crossed the plate twice. Franks was the only Express player not to score a run in the contest.
Westin Walls was his usual winning self on the mound for Moose Jaw, going eight innings and allowing four runs on six hits while striking out seven and walking none. Nathan Pisio tossed a scoreless ninth.
Luke Wilson had a single hit for Energy City, but it was a two-run home run in the first inning that gave his team the early lead. Lucas Chappel had a pair of hits and knocked in a run.
Jan Carlos Rodriquez was the losing pitcher after giving up five runs on three hits and walking six in five innings.
Saskatoon 17, Medicine Hat 5
It was a night to remember for Saskatoon’s Ethan Murdoch, Mason Roell and Josh Henson as the trio put together huge offensive outings to pace the Berries to the win.
Henson got things started with a first inning grand slam that kicked off a six RBI night, while Murdoch went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs, three runs and three RBI and Roell 2-for-3 with two round trippers, four runs and four RBI.
Gavin Panks also crossed the plate three times for Saskatoon, who scored five runs in the first, another five in the second and four in the third to lead 14-4 through three innings.
Saskatoon starter Merek Yeager was more than happy for the offence, and he’d pick up the win after allowing four runs, three earned, on four hits while striking out five over 3 ⅔ innings.
Carson Chan hit a three-run home run in the second for the Mavericks, Eric Calder scored a pair of runs.
Julian Pokorny took the loss after allowing nine runs on six hits in the first two innings.
Regina 8, Lethbridge 6
The Red Sox wasted no time getting things going at Currie Field, scoring five in the second, two in the third and another in the fourth for an early 8-2 lead. The Bulls came back with a pair of runs in the sixth and seventh but would get no closer.
Justin Simard went 2-for-5 with a run and four RBI for Regina, Jake Fowler was 4-for-5 with an RBI. Jalen Meyers, Alex Roux and Lance Anderson each scored a pair of runs.
David Hensarling picked up the win after allowing three runs on four hits over five innings, striking out seven. David Gordon tossed a scoreless eighth and ninth to earn the save.
Zack Cavanagh went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles and two runs for the Bulls.
Jacob McAdams started for the Bulls and took the loss after giving up five runs on seven hits in the first two innings.
Weyburn 13. Brooks 3
Brooks took a 3-1 lead into the sixth inning, but that’s where Weyburn would pull away, scoring six that frame, adding another in the seventh and five more in the eighth to take the mercy rule win.
Will Sevier led Weyburn with a 3-for-4 outing that included a home run and two RBI, Colt Uphold went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and three RBI. Brayden Mayencourt and Joe Madhill each knocked in three runs.
Josh Pritchard was able to escape danger all night on the mound for Weyburn, giving up 12 hits over seven innings but allowing only three runs to earn the win.
Owen Fernandes was 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Bombers, Jose Vargas and Asahi Nakano each went 2-for-4 and scored a run.
Rylan Caplette-Tarrant started for Brooks and allowed a single run through the first five innings before the Beavers got to him in the sixth, and he’d end up taking the loss after giving up five runs on four hits in 5 ⅓ innings.
Fort McMurray 11, Swift Current 8
The back-and-forth battle saw the 57’s leading 8-6 through five innings, but the Giants got within one in the sixth and then scored another three in the seventh to pull away for good.
Jason Avila had a 3-for-6 outing that included a home run, two runs and three RBI for Fort Mac, while Carson Young was 2-for-2 with a round tripper, two runs and three RBI. Jordan Breen also crossed the plate twice, Hudson Wilson had three RBI.
Dayan Gonzalez started for the Giants and lasted two innings, giving up four runs on five hits. Braden Wilson ended up with the win out of a string of four pitchers who tossed the final 4 ⅔ innings and only allowed three hits.
Jake Hiromoto continued to power through WCBL pitchers, hitting another home run and going 2-for-5 with a run and two RBI. Rydell Adair crossed the plate twice, Lucas Geisler had a pair of RBI.
Keagan Knowler got the start for Swift Current took the no decision after allowing three run on four hits over the first three innings. Ian Rasmussen took the loss after allowing a pair of runs in the fifth.
Up Next
It’s All-Star Weeked, with the best of the best in the WCBL in Saskatoon for the festivities. It all starts with the bunt and home run contests on Saturday, followed by the All Star Game itself at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Cairns Field.
