The Red Deer Riggers showed the poise of a team on Tuesday that has not lost a regular season game since July 9, 2013.
The Riggers rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win 5-4 over the Confederation Park Cubs of Edmonton (3-2) in 11 innings to remain perfect through three games in the 2015 Sunburst Baseball League season.
“It took a lot of character for guys to go out and pitch well and have some good at bats,” said Riggers player/coach Curtis Bailey. “We left guys on base quite a bit ... but in the end guys came through.”
Dustin Northcott got the win for the Riggers in relief, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits and one walk with three strikeouts over five innings in his season debut. He replaced Davin Gulbransen who allowed two earned runs in six innings on four hits, two walks, one hit batter with one strikeout.
Mitch St. Laurent took the loss for the Cubs after throwing four-plus innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits and three walks with two strikeouts.
He was responsible for the final run, allowing a leadoff single to Jason Lewis before being replaced by Steven Hogue in the 11th inning.
Hogue allowed consecutive singles to Kerry Boone and then Josh Edwards to plate Lewis to give Red Deer the win.
“(Edwards) had been swinging the bat well in practice, so we gave him an opportunity and he had some good at bats and the result is we win the game,” said Bailey.
The Cubs took a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning on a leadoff home run by Tate Yuzda as the skies opened up with rain. Gulbransen struggled with the precipitation and loaded the bases before a wild pitch plated the second run for the Cubs.
Northcott took over to start the seventh and struggled early, allowing a run on a suicide squeeze before settling down.
“He said after his third inning the winter rust came off, he threw real well and you expect that from a guy who played for the national team, he’s a great pitcher,” said Bailey.
The Riggers fought back with three runs in the bottom half of the inning and then took the lead in the eighth inning as Shayne Court scored on a fielder’s choice.
The Cubs tied it in the ninth inning on an error as Kevin Curran bobbled the ball in left field allowing Garrett Cyr to score from first on a hard hit ball by Logan Wedgewood.
The Riggers are in Spruce Grove on Friday to play the Parkland White Sox (1-4) at 7 p.m.