Riggers 11 Athletics 9
The Red Deer Riggers decided to spot the Sherwood Park Athletics a few runs before they opened the floodgates Tuesday night in their home opener at Great Chief Park.
Red Deer prevailed 11-9 after falling behind 7-0 to move to 4-0 in the Sunburst Senior AAA Baseball League. In the end, it was their veteran laden lineup that made the difference.
“I think just sticking to the plan and not getting too down early. Some times things don’t go your way, and you just have to stick with it,” coach Jason Chatwood said. “We knew there was lots of game left. Pitchers did a good job at holding them, and we had some good at bats.”
The Athletics opened the game on fire, loading the bases in the first before scoring five runs in the second and two more in the third.
The Riggers looked lifeless off the hop, until their seven-run third inning that kick started a whole new ball game.
Red Deer added three more runs in the fifth and allowed only one run from then on to shut the door. Chad Price started the game for Red Deer and went two innings. He let up seven hits and four earned runs.
Veteran Joel Peterman came in and pitched two scoreless innings, before Dustin Northcutt gave up two runs in his two innings. Josh Edwards closed out the game for the Riggers.
The seventh and eighth inning belonged to newcomer Ben Runyon, who only let up one hit and struck out two in two innings of relief.
“He’s good, he’s firm, throws a lot of strikes, so it’s nice to play behind him,” Chatwood said.
“All our pitchers are around the zone, he goes in there and challenges guys, not afraid to throw the fastball.”
Runyon, an Edmonton native spent last summer pitching for the London Majors of the Intercounty Baseball League in Ontario.
Veteran Riggers third baseman Jaret Chatwood was just a triple short of the cycle on Tuesday, hitting a two-run home run, a massive double to centre field and a single in his first at bat.
“Jaret’s home run sparked a little bit of energy and from there we had some things go our way. We knew it was going to be a battle against those guys,” Jason added.
Shayne Court also finished the night 3-for-5 with three RBI.
As solid as Red Deer was late in the game, they also finished with six errors on the night.
The Riggers next hit the field Sunday at 6:30 p.m. when they welcome the St. Albert Tigers to town.
byron.hackett@reddeeradvocate.com