Mosquito Reds falter at home but enjoy final game
By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter
Tyler Lowey Photo
Hosting the tier 5 tournament, the Reds couldn’t capitalize on the home field advantage and finished 0-3 at the agricultural society softball diamonds.
“They were all very close games, we just got started too late. Our defence wasn’t sharp early and our bats weren’t awake. Once we started hitting, we were right with every team,” said Reds Head Coach Jeff Stender.
The Reds nearly pulled off an epic comeback July 27 against the Fort Saskatchewan Red Sox in the tourney opener.
The Red Sox led 10-2 in the final inning when the Reds racked up six runs with one out.
Mason Byma powered the Reds with three RBIs on a 1-for-3 outing, while Lucas Rees went 2 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Carter Neufeld came on in relief for starter Xander Emlyn in the second inning. Neufeld went 2.2 innings, allowed four runs, but none of them were earned.
The Reds lost an even tighter affair in their round robin finale July 28 against the Morinville Miners.
“We are extremely proud of the resiliency and determination they showed when they were down to not give up,” said Stender.
Down 12-8 heading into the final inning, the Reds pushed four runs across in the top half when Byma scored on an error by the catcher, Kieran Neale scored on a single by Braylon Becker, Nixon Rapuano scored Becker on a sacrifice bunt and Sam Michta drove Neufeld in a single up the middle.
Unfortunately, in the bottom half of the sixth, Owen Robinson surrendered the game-winning run with two outs.
The loss sent the Reds into the consolation side of the bracket, where they met the Lacombe Dodgers.
With it being the final game of the year, Stender turned his lineup card over to the kids and let them fill it out.
The Reds lost the high-scoring affair 20-10 July 29 to end their season.
Michta and Byma each went 2 for 3 at the dish with one RBI and one run scored. Neale and Robinson each picked up one hit and scored a pair of runs.
“It was a different perspective for them to fill out the lineup. They did a great job in putting each guy in a position they hadn’t played before this year for a fun way to wrap up the season,” said Stender. “The tournament might not have gone our way, but the kids ended it the way they wanted too.”
The older baseball programs have enjoyed a week off and are ready for their tier 1 provincial tournament in Red Deer.
The midget Reds captured the tier 3 title last year and will be gunning for the tier 1 gold medal Aug. 3 when they take on the powerful Camrose Cougars in the morning. Later that day, the Reds will take on the Beaumont BoSox. On Aug. 12, the Reds will wrap up their round robin play with a tilt against the Parkland Twins.
Should the Reds be successful this weekend, they would advance to the Western Canadian Championships later in the month.
After losing in the provincial semifinal last year, the bantam Reds 1 will look to surpass last year’s team at their tier 1 provincial tournament this weekend in Grande Prairie.
The Reds are in a division with the Okotoks Outlaws Orange, Leduc Giants and St. Albert Cardinals Red. The round robin play begins Aug. 3 with the elimination games beginning Aug. 5.
If the Reds bring home gold, they would automatically qualify for the western Canadian championships later this month from Brandon, Man.