The Red Deer Riggers had all elements of their game in motion Tuesday at Great Chief Park en route to an 8-0 Sunburst Baseball League rout of the Parkland White Sox.
“We had the bats going, had a bit of a running game and our pitching was very good,” said Riggers playing manager Curtis Bailey.
The Riggers collected 12 hits off White Sox hurlers Myles Ethier and Adam Baron and got a dominant performance from starting pitcher Brant Stickel, who held the visitors to three hits over six innings while walking four batters and fanning nine.
Stickel threw 113 pitches before passing the ball to Davin Gulbransen, who faced just four batters in the top of the seventh frame, striking out two. The game was called at that point due to the eight-run mercy rule.
“Brant hasn’t thrown a lot this year, but for not throwing for a couple of weeks he did well,” said Bailey. “I think he was getting squeezed in the zone, around the plate, but he threw a lot of pitches and he was effective.”
The Riggers scored a run in the first inning, then put up two more in the third and one in the fifth before erupting for four runs in the sixth to essentially seal the deal.
Shayne Court was the leader at the plate, driving in four runs on two hits, while Jason Chatwood knocked in two runs with a double and home run and Mark Fay and Matt Fay were each two-for-three.
“Guys were hitting the ball hard. We had some good at-bats,” said Bailey.
The Riggers, who return to action tonight at Fort Saskatchewan against the A’s, improved to 5-2 with Tuesday’s win. Red Deer was coming off a 15-12 loss to the A’s Sunday at Great Chief Park.
“We have the talent this year, we’re just putting it all together,” said Bailey. “We’re starting to come together as a group, which is important especially as you get into a little busier part of the season with tournaments coming up.
“Overall, we’re coming along well.”
The Riggers’ next home game is next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. against the St. Albert Tigers