MIRAMICHI, N.B. — The Red Deer Riggers hopes of finishing first in their pool at the Canadian senior baseball championships have gone down the drain.
The Riggers dropped a tough 6-3 decision to the Fredericton, N.B., Royals Friday morning to even their record at 1-1.
The Royals later added a 4-3 win over St. John’s, N.L., to sit at 3-0.
“We can’t finish first, but we can’t worry about it, it’s a matter of making sure we get into the playoffs,” said Riggers playing manager Curtis Bailey, whose squad has to finish in the top three in the five-team pool to advance.
The Riggers face the Mississauga, Ont., Twins at 6 a.m. (MDT) today and conclude their pool play against St. John’s at 11:15 a.m. If they finish second or third in the pool they advance to the quarter-finals later today.
“Three games in a day is a bit tough, but we have enough pitching left and with the games only seven innings that helps,” added Bailey, who believes the heat is the only thing which could have an affect.
“It’s in the 20s, but with the humidity, it feels like 30 so that makes it tough for guys like Jaret (Chatwood) who is doing all the catching.”
Bailey did indicate he’ll likely use Byron Whitford behind the plate in one of the games today and switch Chatwood to third base.
The loss Friday was especially tough as the Riggers grabbed a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. Jason Chatwood bounced a bases loaded double over the third baseman’s head, scoring Bailey, Shayne Court and Denver Wik.
It was the first time the Riggers managed a key hit with men in scoring position.
“We left 11 men on base and the majority of them were in scoring position,” said Bailey. “Twice we had the bases loaded and on two other occasions had runners on second and third and couldn’t come up with the key hit.
“I think the guys were pressing a little, plus we seem to have a 9 a.m. curse.”
The fact the game actually started at 6 a.m. MDT didn’t help matters either.
“It may have something to do with it, as we were up around 6 a.m. here, which is 3 a.m. at home. The guys haven’t had a lot of time to get adjusted.”
The Royals got to reliever James Fischer, a pickup from the Fort Saskatchewan Athletics, in the sixth inning. Fischer, who got out of a based loaded one-out jam in the fifth inning in relief of starter Cole Stober, couldn’t find his control in the sixth and managed only one out before leaving in favour of James Dykstra.
Before the inning was over the Royals scored five times — three against Fischer.
Wik and Jaret Chatwood had two hits each for the Riggers while Bailey and Whitford each added a hit and a walk.
In other play in the B pool, Dartmouth downed Mississauga 4-2 and lost to St. John’s 3-2. St. John’s, Mississauga and Dartmouth are all 1-2.
In the A pool, defending champion B.C. ran their record to 3-0 by downing Manitoba 10-0 and Halifax 5-1 while Chatham, N.B., sits at 2-1 after beating Halifax 14-2 and Windsor 2-1.
Windsor is also 2-1 with Manitoba 0-2 and Halifax 0-3.