Lethbridge, Okotoks, Swift Current, Weyburn, win playoff openers

Right-hander Anthony Balderas allowed just two runs in five innings to lead the Okotoks Dawgs to an 8-2 rain-shortened win over the Edmonton Prospects on Tuesday. Photo Credit: Amanda Fewer

WMBL Playoffs – August 1

Eastern Division
Game 1: Moose Jaw 3 at Swift Current 4

The 511 fans at Mitchell Field were treated to playoff baseball at its finest. The 57’s took an early lead with a run in the third inning. The visiting Moose Jaw Miller Express battled back as Ty Schindel hit a home run to lead off a three run fifth inning. Swift Current added one run in the bottom of the fifth to close the gap to 3-2 which stood up until the bottom of the ninth.

Cue the hometown comeback as Bodie Cooper led off the Swift Current half of the ninth with a home run to tie the game. Keil Krumwiede, the freshman from the University of Nebraska, kept the rally alive with a walk. He moved into scoring position on a Riley Campbell’s single to centre field. Mason Brown completed the 57’s comeback as he hit a walk off singled to score Keil Krumwiede for the 4-3 win.

Both starting pitchers had good nights. Moose Jaw’s Grant Westmoreland pitched 8 complete innings allowing two runs on four hits and three walks. He also struck out six before turning the ball game over to reliever Galen Andrews. Andrews was tagged for the loss as he gave up two runs on three hits and a walk.  

Starter Bobby St. Pierre was spectacular on the mound for the 57’s. He struck out 11 Moose Jaw batters over eight innings. Layne Downing came on in the ninth to pick up the victory.

Swift Current leads the series 1-0 with Game 2  Tuesday at Mitchell Field in Swift Current.

Game 1: Regina 2 at Weyburn 6
This game featured a lot of water. Garrett Waters faced off against Jake Waters in a rain delayed contest that saw the Weyburn Beavers defeat the visiting Regina Red Sox 6-2 at Tom Laing Park.

Weyburn scored five runs in the first inning and Garrett Waters provided seven innings of two-run baseball for the Beaver victory.

Starter Jake Waters took the loss for the Red Sox. He was on the hook for eight hits and six unearned runs over five innings.

Evan Weidner and Zach Mathis helped the Beavers offence with two hits each.

Outfielder Griffin Keller, from Pilot Butte, Sask., had a pair of hits for the Red Sox.

Game 2 goes Wednesday night in Weyburn. Game 3 will be played in Regina on Thursday.

Western Division
Game 1: Edmonton 2 at Okotoks 8
The Okotoks Dawgs defeated the Edmonton Prospects 8-2 in a rain shortened first game of the playoffs. Officials called the game midway through the fifth inning because the field was deemed unplayable due to wet conditions. 1,863 fans braved the weather to watch the game.

Okotoks starter Anthony Balderas picked up the victory. He went five strong innings, keeping the Prospect batters at bay with two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five.

Zayne Foth-Thomas did not fare well in his start for Edmonton. The Dawgs scored seven runs on five hits and three walks in just 3 1/3 innings.

Matt Lloyd continued to terrorize WMBL pitching as he had a double, three RBI and a stolen base in the win.

Edmonton shortstop Zane Takhar had three of the Prospects five hits.

Okotoks now leads the best-of-five series, 1-0. Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday at Seaman Stadium.

Game 1: Medicine Hat 2 at Lethbridge 3
The Lethbridge Bulls needed 10 innings to defeat the Medicine Hat Mavericks 3-2 in Game 1.

Ryan Pouwells lead off in the bottom of the 10th inning for the Bulls and reached base on an error. Alex Bishop walked and Blake MacDonald advanced the runners to second and third.
Jesse Hilyard, a junior at Northwest Nazarene University came through in the clutch with a walk-off single to score Ryan Pouwells and give the Bulls a 1-0 series lead.

This game featured another great pitching duel between the Bulls’ Brady Moxham and Medicine Hat’s Jared Libke.

Moxham, the South Dakota State product gave up six hits, three walks and two runs over nine innings. Louis Corral tossed a scores 10th inning for the victory.

Libke went the distance and took the loss for the Mavericks. He was tagged for three runs on 10 hits and four walks. He also registered nine strikeouts.

Brett Semeniuk lead the Bulls attack as he reached base four times on three hits and a walk for the Bulls. Blake Rowlett had a pair of hits for the Mavericks.