Reds snipe silver

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

The Strathmore Reds nearly rode some hot bats all the way to a provincial title.
At the Mosquito AA Tier 1 provincials earlier in the month in Spruce Grove, the Reds couldn’t find a way to cool off the red-hot St. Albert Cardinals when it mattered most.
The Reds opened the tourney by battling back to force extra innings against the Cardinals, before eventually falling flat in the seventh inning.
“That was a crushing loss,” said Reds Head Coach Andy Stender. “We spotted St. Albert a seven-run lead in the first two innings and basically held them off the scoreboard for the next six innings while we came back. We scored the tying run in the top of the sixth, but couldn’t hold them off for one more inning.”
The 9-8 loss didn’t derail their provincial bid, but it pushed their backs up against the wall in the remaining round robin games.
That’s when the bats came alive and the Reds responded.
The Reds dimed the Parkland Twins 14-4 and brushed back the Southwest Edmonton White Sox 9-7 to give them the No. 2 seed in the division.
“I was amazed at the way the kids responded after that opening loss. But that’s the kind of team we have and the kind of season we had,” said Stender. “With only three returning players entering this season, I thought we were going to be a Tier 2 or 3 team. I didn’t see this run coming.”
In the semis, taking on the top-seeded Innisfail Hawks from the other pool, the Reds whacked them 20-9.
“Great pitching and timely runs got us to the final,” said Stender. “We had a few fairly consistent hitters this year, but everyone came alive that weekend.”
Waiting for the Reds in the finals were the Cardinals.
“They came out and put a couple up before we got going,” said Stender. “Once we did, it was a little too late to complete the comeback.”
The Cards handled provincial MVP Aubrey Stender, and knocked him around to pick up the 9-5 victory and gold medal.
“Aubrey was great for us. He pitched six shutout innings against the Cards, caught two games and played some third base. He also picked up a bunch of big hits,” said his dad, Andy.
Even if they had won gold, it would have marked the end of the season. Western Canadian championships only begin at the peewee level, to which seven of 11 players will be moving to next year.