SPORTSHOUND: First in Class

The Bonnyville U 18 AA Braves were on the road again on the weekend of the 14th in Lacombe to play their final three game series  of the round robin seeding. This was the first time this season that they played against the Calgary Bucks and it was not one of their better performances. Numerous errors in the field and very little happening at the plate gave the Bucks an early lead that hey would hang on to until the final out.

Dallas Sparklingeyes went 2-3 at the plate with 3 rbi ( runs batted in)  Seth Cobourne went 1-2 with a nice triple to the fence, CJ Kulikov had a couple of singles. Reliever Evan Gamache came in and pitched a quality 1.2 innings giving up a couple hits and no ER. ( earned runs)The Braves  losing 13-6, but can’t wait for the rematch.

The second game of the weekend was against the Central Alberta Hounds. This was the fourth meeting  this year against the Hounds and all of them have nail biters. This one was no different.

The boys decided to come better prepared for the challenge and were ready to play. Dawson Plamondon went 3-3 at the dish, Zach Lapoint went 2-3 with a couple RBIs. Andon “Ace” Ballas who has started to hit for power went 1-3 with another triple. Keagan Locke on the mound pitching a jem of a game and threw 6 innings allowing only 5 hits and striking  out 3 while only giving up 1 ER. Kobe “Cobra” Warawa came in and closed out the 7th inning allowing no runs. It was a back and forth affair being close the whole game. The Braves coming out on the short end of the stick in  this one 9-6 to square the season series at 2 a piece.

Andon Ballas at the plate

Starting the weekend 0-2 is never fun, especially going into a back to back game against the top team the SJP Jays. However, with Brad Atwal on the mound throwing another gem of a game going 6 innings, with 7 K’s (strike outs) and only 1 ER it gave the Braves a real chance to win. The Jays jumped ahead 2-0 after the fourth inning, but the Braves bats came alive.

Graham “Uncle Cracker” Broda went 2-4 with 2 RBIs. Tyler Hardy had another strong weekend at the plate scoring a couple runs. Once the boys started hitting the train  couldn’t be stopped. The Braves going on to slam the Jays 12-2.

No one of the ever would have thought a 10 run win would end up happening against the Jays. But that’s why you play the game. Anything can happen in baseball.

Colton Lacoursiere reaching for one on third

Also with that win it ended up being bigger than a boost for the boys. It shot them up in the standings to be tied with SJP for first place. With the Braves having a better run differential in the two head to head games the Braves will go in as the number 1 seed to the provincial championship next weekend in Castor.

The top 6 teams in  AA league in the province will be there. Anyone of these teams could win all the marbles , but the Braves will be ready to play their best baseball. Good luck boys!!