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Riggers drill Stags

Marshall MacDonald isn’t sure what the future holds, now that his college days are over, but more than likely he would like it to include baseball in some capacity.
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Red Deer Rigger Jason Chatwood tags Red Deer Stag Jordan Peter out during a botched steal at second Tuesday at Great Chief Park. The Riggers won 10-2 to win the Sunburst Baseball League South Division Final 2-1. They will play Fort Saskatchewan in the final.

Riggers 10 Stags 2

Marshall MacDonald isn’t sure what the future holds, now that his college days are over, but more than likely he would like it to include baseball in some capacity.

“I don’t know what will happen, I’ll just play it by ear,” said MacDonald, who was at third base for the Red Deer Riggers Tuesday in a 10-2 win over the Red Deer Stags.

The win gave the Riggers a 2-1 victory in the best-of-three Sunburst Baseball League South Division final and earn them a date with the Fort Saskatchewan A’s in the best-of-three final.

MacDonald, who earned a general studies degree from the University of Dayton, Ohio, can’t say where his baseball career will take him either.

“I’ll figure something out, but for now I’m not worried about it,” he said.

MacDonald spent the summer in Ottawa, playing in a semi-pro league.

“They were looking for a catcher and gave me a call,” he said.

It was just another chapter to his baseball career that took him from Colby Community College in Kansas to Dayton. He also played in the Western Major Baseball League and with the professional Calgary Vipers.

MacDonald also was a former member of the Stags, but was in contact with Jason Chatwood and signed with the Riggers to play the provincials this weekend in St. Albert.

However, he won’t be attending the national championships, Aug. 26-29 in Dartmouth, N.S.

“I can’t afford the time away from work . . . it would be nine days,” said MacDonald, who is working for Apollo Landscaping.

MacDonald, who hasn’t played for close to three weeks, had a single, a walk and was hit twice in four trips to the plate.

Jason Chatwood led the Riggers with three singles, two doubles and two RBIs while Kerry Boon had two hits and three RBIs, Matt Fay a pair of hits and a walk, Jaret Chatwood a hit and three walks and Denver Wik a pair of hits and was hit once.

“I was pleased with the way we swung the bats,” said Riggers manager Curtis Bailey. “Our offence showed up and we scored runs in seven of the eight innings. It seemed like everyone was comfortable at the plate and had an idea of what they had to do.”

The Riggers collected 15 hits off four Stag pitchers.

James Carr started and allowed two runs on three hits in three innings with Colin Amendt allowing three runs on five hits in two innings of work. Josh Edwards was nicked for four runs on five hits in two innings and Aaron Tweet gave up an unearned run in the eighth, which brought the eight-run mercy rule into affect.

James Dykstra started for the Riggers and tossed five innings of one-hit ball.

“Lenny (Dykstra) threw well and kept us at bay,” said Stags co-manager Shawn Connor. “But we also didn’t swing the bats the way we can. Still credit to their pitchers.”

Colin Hodgson worked two innings, allowing two runs on three hits and Joel Peterman worked the eighth.

Peterman, who struggled last time out, looked a lot sharper, said Bailey.

“He threw nice and an easy, which he needs to do. It’s not a game at the fair.”

• The Riggers and Stags open the provincials Friday at 2 p.m. against each other . . . The Stags meet the St. Albert Tigers Friday at 8 p.m., the A’s Saturday at 2 p.m. and the Calgary Redbirds Sunday at 9 a.m. . . . The Riggers clash with the Redbirds at 9 a.m. and the A’s at 6 p.m. Saturday and the Tigers Sunday . . . Dates for the Sunburst final have yet to be set . . . Jordan Reiter had two hits and a walk for the Stags Tuesday . . . Stags have added pitchers Jamie Vallis of Calgary and Burke Seifret of Spruce Grove for the provincials.

drode@www.reddeeradvocate.com