Dawgs Red 10 Braves 9
The Red Deer Carstar Braves continue to go in the right direction, but the problem is it’s not showing on the scoreboard.
The Braves, 0-5, showed more positives than negatives, but still dropped a 10-9 eight-inning decision in NorWest Midget AAA Baseball League play at a cold and windy Great Chief Park Wednesday.
“We improved in certain areas, we threw out a couple base runners, picked off a couple guys and made some key defensive plays to get out of innings,” said Braves head coach Terry Letkeman. “But in other areas we’re still missing signs and making some mental errors, but as a whole I like the direction we’re going.”
The Braves have also hurt themselves with physical errors, which cost them the game when the Dawgs scored an unearned run in the top of the eighth.
Brandon Bodemer, who replaced starter Jason Garrett in the six-run second inning, took the loss.
“Jason has a bad hip and it started to bother him in the second innings, affecting his control,” explained Letkeman.
Bodemer came on with none away in the second and worked into the eighth, allowing four runs — two earned — on five hits and six walks. Two of the walks came in the eighth when he was obviously tiring.
He left with one out and the bases loaded for Brett Barrett, who should have been out of the inning after a strikeout and a ground ball.
“Brandon is a real character kid and despite the cold did a great job,” said Letkeman. “And Brett came in cold and had us out of the inning.”
Another positive for the Braves is the fact they battled to the end, scoring single runs in the sixth and seventh to force the extra inning.
Sam Shierman had two hits and drove in four runs for the Braves while Ty Elliott and Reign Letkeman, who scored four runs, added two hits each. Jonah Penner had a double and two RBIs.
The Braves will compete in the Moose Jaw tournament this weekend.