Connor Fenton was four-for-four at the plate and was a home run short of hitting for the cycle as the Red Deer North Star Sports Braves downed the Innisfail Indians 18-8 in weekend peewee AA baseball action.
PJ Clubine stroked three singles and drove in three runs for the winners, Trevor Baron had three doubles, Kade Kahlert was three-for-five with four RBI and Justin Wasylowich had two hits and knocked in two runs.
Reid Howell started on the Red Deer mound and worked four and two-thirds innings before leaving the game due to reaching his maximum pitch count of 80. Trailing 13-1, the Indians went on to score seven runs in the fifth frame, but then gave up five runs in the top of the seventh inning.
“Everyone contributed this game and that is great to see,” said Braves coach Kathy Lalor. “We stayed in the game even after a breakdown in the fifth inning and I am proud of the kids for not giving up.”
Later in the day, North Star Sports fell 10-0 to the visiting Leduc Giants.
Trevor Baron, with late relief from Josh Nicholson, took the loss, while Wasylowich cracked a double as one of the Braves’ five hits.
“It was a tough night for the kids offensively as they couldn’t get to the Leduc starter,” said assistant coach Pat Hicks. “You could see the frustration on the field, but I am certain they will rebound. They did a lot of great things defensively despite the outcome.”
The Braves bounced back with a 17-10 win over the Okotoks Outlaws in their final regular-season outing Sunday evening at Great Chief Park.
Kahlert started on the Red Deer hill and threw four strong innings before allowing five runs in the fifth. The Braves, however, had struck for 11 runs in the bottom of the fourth frame for a 12-3 lead, so weren’t bothered by the Outlaws’ rally.
Craig Bradley gave up just two runs the rest of the way while Jamie Lalor went three-for-three at the plate and Kahlert was four-for-four. Bradley and Howell were each three-for-four offensively with Kahlert and Wasylowich each driving in three runs.
“That was exactly the kind of performance we needed as a team as we head into Baseball Alberta provincials,” said Lalor, whose team will host the provincials Aug. 1-3 at Great Chief Park.