Sylvan Lake 6 Lethbridge 5
It’s a moment every player dreams of.
Bottom of the ninth inning, bases loaded, tie game with two outs and with the game in your hands.
Gulls Kaden Zarowny made the most of the opportunity hitting a ball into the infield for a walkoff 6-5 win to beat the Lethbridge Bulls at Gulls Stadium Friday night.
“It felt really good I had a costly mistake in the outfield earlier in the game that cost us an extra run and missed an out. So, I went up there and I knew I had to get it done,” he said.
Once Zarowny made contact the Bulls made a costly error and missed getting the out at second for the Gulls to get the victory. Immediately following the win the Gulls chased Zarowny into the outfield and showered their teammate in Gatorade.
“It’s always fun walking off a game I’ve done it a couple times It’s always fun doing it, the team goes crazy, adrenalines pumping, you’re running as fast as you can just having fun with the teammates,” he added.
The Strathmore native is a newly acquired Gull from the Okotoks Dawgs just joining the team on Wednesday.
Kyle Froehlich also had 2 RBI’s on one hit and Chase Rodriguez also contributing two hits.
Josh Tucker got the start pitching 3 and one third of an inning striking out three and allowing six hits. Tyler Hampu came in the fourth and pitched five innings with two strikeouts and allowing four hits.
In the bottom of the third inning after allowing three runs, including a deep shot to centre field just shy of the wall, Tucker was able to get the final out on a ground out to second base.
In the fourth inning with two on base the Bulls scored another run after a pitch got away from Tucker. Coach Jason Chatwood decided he had seen enough and sent in reliever Tyler Hampu. The Bulls would score one more to make it 5-0 for Lethbridge before Hampu would get out of the inning.
However, with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth the Gulls got back into the game when designated hitter Kyle Froehlich smoked a ball along the left field line to bring home two runs. Another hit in a run to cut into the lead, the next batter would be the final out of the inning with Lethbridge leading 5-3.
Sylvan Lake would get on the board again the seventh inning come within one run of tying the game. In the eighth inning the Gulls called it a comeback and tied the game 5-5 before Zarowny’s miraculous moment to win the game.
The Gulls also played Thursday beating the Brooks Bombers on the road 8-5. The Gulls will be back on the field Saturday for a rematch with Lethbridge.