The Red Deer Riggers ran into a hot hand to start the 39th Annual Riggers Tournament.
Calgary Dinos starter Aiden Orsted tossed complete-game five-hitter, only allowing one Riggers hit after the third inning.
Orsted threw 96 pitches in the 4-3 victory, with only one earned run on the night, along with four walks and one strikeout.
“We just didn’t give him much. That pitcher wasn’t doing too much and I think we were thinking a little too much at the plate. It’s a guy we should be able to hit normally. Just trying to do a little too much,” said Joel Peterman.
“We know what we have to do, just have to go get one (Saturday) and we’re in the same place you would be on Sunday. Reset the mind and just get right back at it.”
The schedule for this year's Riggers Tournament is out! It goes down July 26th-July 28th at Great Chief Park. Click the image below or check it out on our website for the entire schedule! #RiggersTourney #RiggersBaseball #AMnotPM #dohhttps://t.co/96PZ5fJk9I pic.twitter.com/JLp4OUzEJ8
— Red Deer Riggers (@RedDeerRiggers) July 13, 2019
The Dinos got things started on the right note Friday when first baseman Soren Graverson crushed home run to right field first inning.
In the top of the second, Red Deer product Austin Hammond hit an RBI single to tie the game for the Riggers.
Red Deer jumped ahead in the third, after Jaret Chatwood scored on an error and Derek Chapman scored on a double play.
Jake Hosselink scored on a single by Royce Wilkinson in the fourth before the Dinos cashed in big in the fifth.
Designated hitter Jordan Smith was clutch with a two-RBI triple in the inning to pull Calgary ahead 4-3.
Josh Edwards didn’t have his best stuff on the mound for the Riggers. The crafty lefty grinded through five innings, allowing six hits and four earned runs. He struck out five and walked three on the night. Peterman pitched the final inning for the Riggers and didn’t allow a runner on base.
Peterman, in his 11th Riggers tournament, said as much as it’s good to see different competition the tournament has always been about growing the game at the grassroots level.
“It’s awesome, just to see all the fans out, the kids out. Seeing the kids down at the ballpark and growing that love for the sport,” Peterman said.
“There’s some provincials going on at the other field, so we’re hoping to get those kids out and just grow the love for baseball… and the beer for the people who love having a beer while watching the game.”
Tournament play continues Saturday at 9 a.m., with action throughout the day at Great Chief Park. The home run derby is at 7 p.m. and the Riggers play following that at 8 p.m.