LACOMBE — The Red Deer Sports World Braves opened their midget AA baseball league season with a pair of wins on Sunday.
The Braves downed the Rocky Mountain House Sun Devils 13-10 and whipped the Innisfail Indians 21-2.
The Braves trailed the Sun Devils 8-7 in the bottom of the fifth, but Jayden Hutlet’s two-out hit drove in Teagan Calonna and Alec Mitchell to put the Braves ahead. Joe Ireland added a two-run double in the sixth to seal the victory.
Reid Stoyberg was two-for-four with a double and scored twice.
Chaz Piche started on the mound, working three innings before giving way to Hutlet, Logan Marshall, Blake Thomson and Tyler Galloway.
Thomson earned the victory, tossing 1 2/3 innings of shutout ball with Galloway picking up the save, taking over with one away in the seventh and inducing a game-ending double play.
Joe Ireland led the Braves attack in the nightcap, going four-for-four, which included a two-run triple, and scored three runs. Alex Heinzlmeir was three-for-three with four RBIs while Calonna was three-for-three with an RBI double.
Thomson scored three times on a pair of hits and two walks while Jesse Kowalachuk scored four times and drove in two runs.
Alec Mitchell was two-for-four, walked twice, scored twice and drove in a run.
Galloway started and tossed three innings of one-hit ball with Thomson and Jesse Muirhead in relief.
Round 1 of the regular season continues May 19 and 20 with a three-game series in Innisfail.