Red Deer Rigger Denver Wik cashed in a game-winning run in a thrilling 12-11 victory over the Edmonton Confederation Cubs on Tuesday at Great Chief Park.
Coach Jason Chatwood said that is how close the league and the rivalry between the two teams has been all season. He said it was a good team win.
“If you look at the scoreboard, we found a way to scrape runs,” he said. “If we gave them a lead we found a way to do whatever we needed to do to get ourselves back in the game. Made some plays when we needed to. Pitchers battled.”
Riggers’ Kevin Curran reached first on an error in the ninth with the game tied at 11. He advanced on a wild throw by the Cubs second baseman.
Centre fielder Shayne Court dropped a sacrifice bunt that moved Curran to third and Wik scorched a line drive to second with the Cubs infield in. The ball deflected off the infielders’ glove, allowing Curran to score and win the game for the home side.
The contest was back and forth all evening with the Cubs taking a 5-1 lead in the top of the third, but the Riggers battled back to tie it at five in the bottom half.
Red Deer cashed another three runs in the fourth and the Cubs responded with two. The Riggers added another two in the fifth and one more in the sixth to hold a 10-7 advantage late in the game. The visitors scored once in the eighth and added another two in the top of the ninth to tie the game at 11.
“That’s a big game, almost a playoff type game,” said Chatwood. “We’re battling for first place with those guys. Coming in we knew it was going to be a big night. Might not be pretty but it’s nice to get it,” he said.
“Tonight it worked out. Give them credit too, it was a good baseball game.”
Four Riggers finished the night with at least two hits and eight of their nine starters had at least one hit in the game. Curtis Mazurkewich had three RBI on the night and Levi Moon had two. Moon crushed a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Davin Gulbransen started for the Riggers and allowed six runs on eight hits while striking out three. Ben Runyon pitched three innings of relief and allowed just one run. Joel Peterman earned the win late in two innings of work.
Red Deer will host their annual tournament this weekend squaring off against the Calgary Cardinals on Friday night at 7 p.m at Great Chief Park.
The second round robin game for Red Deer is Saturday night at 7:30 p.m, against the St. Albert Tigers.
Chatwood said the tournament allows the team to adjust to playing in seven-inning games as opposed to the nine in the regular season, which they will play in at nationals in August.
They will also face different pitchers who they don’t usually face in the Sunburst League.
“It’s going to be a good atmosphere and some good weather hopefully,” Chatwood said.
Looking forward to this weekend and running into the @CgyCardinals at the casino. Hopefully we win a game this year. #billybobs pic.twitter.com/NU5ElUq0eJ
— Athletics Baseball⚾ (@ParkAthletics) July 13, 2018
The Edmonton Cardinals, Edmonton Cubs and the Sherwood Park Athletics round out the six-team field. Round robin games will be played on Saturday starting at 9:30 a.m. The final of the tournament will be Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m at Great Chief Park.
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
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