Riggers 19 Tigers 2 (7 innings)
Rebounding from their first loss of the season, the Red Deer Riggers struck early and often on their way to a 19-2 win over the St. Albert Tigers.
It took the Riggers just seven innings to beat the Tigers on home soil in Sunburst Baseball League action as the mercy rule came into effect. They drove in 19 runs on 15 hits.
Causing problems for the Tigers were five errors. That left their starting pitcher with only seven earned runs of the 16 scored while he was on the mound.
Playing catcher because of some re-arranging, J.P. Wilner foreshadowed the coming runs onslaught in the first inning with a two-run home run to right field. He went two-for-three with a single and two walks.
After a scoreless second inning, the Riggers bats really came alive as they scored six runs in the third. That set off four straight innings of offence, as the team scored 17 runs from the third to the sixth.
Leading the way was Jaret Chatwood, playing shortstop, who went two-for-five with a two-run double and a singles.
He finished the game with four RBIs and scored four times.
“It felt good today,” said Chatwood. “Everyone came out ready to play and we jumped on the pitcher. I think they were a little short on guys tonight and we came out ready to go. We hadn’t played in a while and guys were ready to go.
“We wanted to get back into the wins and we did that in a big way tonight.”
But the offence was spread around for the Riggers as right fielder Josh Edwards also sent the ball out of the park with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth. Designated hitter Jordan Weinkauf and left fielder Derek Chapman also pitched in with two-run doulbes during the game, Weinkauf in the sixth inning and Chapman in the fifth.
Tigers pitcher Adams shouldered most of the game, going four and two-thirds throwing 105 pitches.
The Riggers turned to stalwart pitcher Dustin Northcott who threw five innings, allowing one earned run and striking out four. Davin Gulbransen and Joel Peterman pitched the remaining two innings. Gulbransen surrendered the Tigers other run, while Peterman struck out one to close out the shortened game.
“Anytime you have Dustin on the mound, he throws great,” said Chatwood. “Davin came in and threw well and then Joel closed it out. Our pitchers did what we needed to do and only gave up two runs.”
With the win, the Riggers improve their season record to 12-1, still atop the Sunburst Baseball League standings. They have a busy few days ahead of them early next week as they will play three games in three nights, two of them are on the road.
After a road game on July 18 against the Confederation Park Cubs, the Riggers will host the Parkland White Sox on July 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Great Chief Park. Then on July 20 they go to Sherwood Park to play the Athletics.
mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com