Making short work of the visiting Confederation Park Cubs, the Red Deer Riggers needed only 12 innings to beat them twice in a doubleheader.
The two Sunburst Baseball League teams met Sunday afternoon for Father’s Day at Great Chief Park. The Riggers rattled off two straight wins, 13-2 and 8-1 over the visiting Cubs.
The wins maintain the Riggers’ perfect start to the season, 8-0.
Rigger’s first baseman Jason Louis put on a show in the opening game belting a solo home run in the fourth inning and two doubles, on his way to a five RBI day.
“Some days you just have it and everything you hit is square,” said Louis, who also partially credited not thinking too much for why he had the good game.
“Sometimes (in doubleheaders) you can come out flying, we won 13-2, and it’s easy to come back and go flat and give up a game you probably could have won.”
The offence was fired up in the first game as they combined to score 13 runs, beating the Cubs 13-2. Shortstop Jason Chatwood drove in four runs, including a two-run double as part of the Riggers seven run fourth inning.
Not helping matters was a shaky Cubs infield who had four errors in the first game.
“The guys were swinging it well and our pitching staff threw strikes and got their outs,” said Chatwood. “They got a lead early in the second game and we stuck with it and gutted it out.”
Helping matters in the first game was a solid start from pitcher Dustin Northcott, who got the win. He pitched four innings, struck out three and walked one. He allowed only one earned run on one hit.
“He sets the tone,” said Chatwood. “He’s been one of our guys for a long time. You have a comfort level playing behind him.”
Closer Joel Peterman came in to pitch the fifth inning as the Sunburst Baseball League’s mercy rule applied. He surrendered one earned run, but then shut the door on the Riggers’ win.
Davin Gulbranson took the mound in the second game and picked up the win in an 8-1 Riggers victory. He allowed the Cubs’ only run in the first inning, but settled down from there on in.
Right fielder Derek Chapman went three-for-four in the second game with three singles.
After going scoreless in the first and second innings, the Riggers scored three in the third, one in the fourth and two in both the fifth and sixth innings.
The Riggers now go on the road to play the St. Albert Tigers on Tuesday and will play in the Tigers’ tournament this weekend.
Their next home game is scheduled for June 28 against the Confederation Park Cubs at 7:30 p.m. at Great Chief Park.