Riggers 11-12 Stags 3-2
A lack of hitting was one of the things that hurt the Red Deer Riggers during the final day of the provincial senior AAA baseball championships.
But it didn’t take long for them to rediscover their offence.
The Riggers beat the Red Deer Stags 11-3 and 12-2 to sweep a best-of-three Sunburst Baseball League semifinal series at Great Chief Park Thursday.
“Everyone contributed,” said Riggers manager Curtis Bailey. “We scored in every inning but one in the first game, then put together a string of good at-bats in the second. It was nice to be consistent.”
Bailey played a major role in the second game as he drilled a grand slam home run off Stags starter and loser Davin Gulbransen in the five-run fourth inning which gave the Riggers an 11-2 lead.
“That’s the first one in two years,” said Bailey.
The Riggers also got solid pitching from a pair of youngsters — Joel Peterman and Colin Hodgson. Peterman started the opener and limited the Stags to two hits through five innings before tiring in the sixth when he allowed three hits and a pair of walks before giving way to Hodgson, who got out of the jam and retired the side in the seventh.
Hodgson then started the nightcap and gave up a pair of first-inning runs on Chayse Marion’s deep home run to right centre.
Hodgson then shut the door the rest of the way, working through six innings. He struggled with his control in the sixth, walking three, but had just enough in the tank to finish the frame. The Riggers scored their 12th run in the bottom of the inning when Mark Fay was hit by a pitch by Scott Trapp with the bases loaded.
“Joel and Colin did a great job,” said Bailey. “You could tell Peterman was beginning to tire and Colin came on and did a good job to finish the first game, then battled hard in the second. He threw a few too many pitches, but he was mentally tough, especially when he was obviously tired.”
Jason Chatwood, Mike Ronnie, who had a pair of walks, and Kerry Boon had three hits each in the opener with Matt Fay. who also had two walks and was hit by a pitch, and Denver Wik adding two hits each. Bailey had three hits in the second contest with Jason Chatwood, Jaret Chatwood, Ronnie and Shayne Court adding two each. Byron Whitford had two hits in both games for the Stags while Dan Zinger had a pair in the nightcap.
Jordan Reiter started the first game for the Stags and worked into the fourth, allowing eight runs. Trapp came on to finish both games for the Stags.
The Riggers are to play Fort Saskatchewan in the league final, but no date has been set.
The Riggers will also attend the national finals, Aug. 25-28 in Miramichi, N.B.
drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com