It was all systems go for the Saskatoon Berries offence in Western Canadian Baseball League action on Thursday night.
The Berries took an early lead and didn’t let up in the later innings, going on to 21-8 victory over the Energy City Cactus Rats in Edmonton on Wednesday evening.
Other action for Saskatchewan teams saw the Regina Red Sox take a 9-3 win over the Weyburn Beavers for their fifth-straight victory, while the Swift Current 57’s fell 15-10 to the Medicine Hat Mavericks.
Saskatoon improves to 30-12 and moves within a half-game of the Moose Jaw Miller Express for first place in the East Division, Regina improves to 18-23 and moves 1 ½ games clear of Weyburn for third place. Swift Current falls to 14-27 and are two games back of Medicine Hat in sixth.
Saskatoon 21, Energy City 8
The Berries scored four runs in the second inning and added another three in the fourth for an early 7-1 lead before pouring it on in the final frames, scoring three in the sixth, six in the seventh and five more in the eighth to finish off the mercy-rule win.
Nick Cote was one of Saskatoon’s offensive leaders, going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, three runs and two RBI, while Ethan Murdoch had a home run as his lone hit, scored three runs and knocked in two. Mason Roel went 3-for-3 with two doubles, two runs and two RBI, Brock Laird crossed the plate three times and had three RBI, Gael Salinas also had three runs and three RBI. Nate Houston picked up three RBI, Nash Nichols was 2-for-6 with a home run and double.
Zachary Landerville started for Saskatoon and gave up a single run on three hits over six innings, striking out six.
Hikaru Ikeda had a home run as his lone hit for Energy City, and he’d finish with a pair of runs and three RBI. Cayden Allen scored two runs for Cactus Rats, David Simmons was 2-for-4 with a run and RBI.
Mitchell Britton got the start for Energy City and took the loss after giving up eight runs, six earned on seven hits over 5 ⅓ innings.
Regina 9, Weyburn 3
The Red Sox kept up a slow and steady pace in the first half of the game, scoring single runs in the first, second and fourth innings before adding two more in the fifth. They then pulled away for good with a four-run eighth.
Daniel Castellanos hit a home run and ended up with two runs and two RBI, while Brady Byte was 3-for-4 with two RBI for Regina. Jake Fowler scored two runs and knocked in two, Lance Anderson also crossed the plate twice.
Dan Crabtree ended up as the winning pitcher after going six shutout innings, scattering four hits and striking out five.
Weyburn was led at the plate by Ryan Dauphinee, who went 3-for-4 with a double and picked up an RBI.
Logan Lynch got the start for the Beavers and allowed five runs, three earned, on eight hits over five innings.
Medicine Hat 15, Swift Current 10
The teams exchanged four runs in the first inning, but a five-run outburst in the fourth gave the Mavericks the lead for good, and they’d steadily tack on runs the rest of the way.
Eric Calder had an impressive outing for Medicine Hat, going 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs, three runs and four RBI. Evan Morrison was 2-for-4 with a home run and three runs scored, Nick Hill also hit a round tripper and knocked in three runs. Frankie Giacalone kept the ball in the park but still did lots of damage with a 4-for-6 outing that included two doubles, two runs and an RBI.
Cody Meyers started for Medicine Hat and allowed four runs on eight hits over five innings to earn the win.
Mace Wheeler went 3-for-5 with a home run, two runs and three RBI for Swift Current, Keagan Knowler was 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, Anthony Hector hit a round tripper and knocked in three runs.
Riley Bestor took the loss after giving up five runs on three hits in the first inning.
Up Next
Only two games involving Saskatchewan teams are on tap for Thursday as Saskatoon is at Fort McMurray (7:05 p.m.) and Swift Current is at Moose Jaw (7:05 p.m.).
