WMBL Division Finals: Medicine Hat, Weyburn Game 1 winners

The Medicine Hat Mavericks defeated the Edmonton Prospects 5-3 in Game 1 of the WMBL's Western Division Final on Monday. Photo Credit: Medicine Hat Mavericks

By Tony Playter

WMBL Communications

Game 1 – Western Division Final

Edmonton 3 vs Medicine Hat 5

(Medicine Hat leads series 1-0)

The Medicine Hat Mavericks jumped out to a 5-0 lead after four innings and then shut down the Edmonton comeback to win the first game of the Western Division Final 5-3.

Edmonton finished the game with seven hits and an error while the Mavericks had eight hits and three errors.

Prospects starter Matt Brisson left the game after three innings. The Edmonton, Alta., native was tagged for four runs on six hits in the loss. Lefty Andrew Grieder finished the contest throwing five innings of one run relief.

Brady Tedesco, the sophomore from South Mountain Community College, started for Medicine Hat. Tedesco, making his third appearance and second start in the 2017 playoffs tossed 7 2/3 innings for the win. The final line on Tedesco was three runs on seven hits and two walks. He also had three strike outs before handing the ball to Barry Caine who finished the eighth inning.  Conner Deeds, from Colorado Springs, Colo., pitched a hitless and scoreless ninth inning to collect his third playoff save.   

The top of the order for Edmonton, Jake Lanferman and Zane Takhar each had two hits to lead the Prospects' offence. Lanferman and Takhar also scored all three Edmonton runs.

Chris Caffery helped the Mavericks' cause with a double, a triple and three RBI. Right fielder Zack Kunkel added a pair of hits and a run in the Medicine Hat victory.

Athletic Field in Medicine Hat is the place to be for Game two on Tuesday night. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

Game 1 – Eastern Division Final

Weyburn 12 at Swift Current 4

(Weyburn leads series 1-0)

The Weyburn Beavers brought their bats to Swift Current and hammered out 20 hits to win Game 1 of the Eastern Division Final 12-4 over the 57’s. The crowd of 667 at Mitchell Field watched as all nine Weyburn batters reached base with at least one hit in the game.

Zach Mathis and Anthony Wiggins each had four hits to power the Weyburn offence. Zach Frazier chipped in with a grand slam in the fifth inning.

Bodie Cooper was Swift Current’s top hitter. Cooper, a senior from Wayne State College had three hits including a double and a home run along with two RBI in a losing cause.

Both teams had three home runs.

The Beavers got a complete game from starter Garrett Waters. The senior from the University of Mobile, who has now won both of his playoff starts, threw 111 pitches, 77 for strikes. Waters allowed four runs on 10 hits and fanned seven Swift Current hitters in his winning performance.

Swift Current sent Bobby St. Pierre out to hill for his second playoff start. St. Pierre lasted five innings giving up eight runs on 13 hits and a walk in the loss. Trey Taylor, Garrett Goodall and James Smith all saw action out of the 57’s bullpen.

Game two goes Tuesday night at Mitchell Field with first pitch being thrown at 7 p.m.