Angels end season with loss to Reds

The Regina Angels closed out the season with a 7-4 playoff loss against the Reds in Optimist Junior League action on Wednesday night (July 26). Ryan Wagner was too much for the Angels, as he gutted out a complete game, scattering 7 hits and surviving 2 hit batsmen and 4 errors for the win. The Angels did not record a hit until Connor Clark and Jake Hesselink connected in the fifth inning and scored two in the Sixth on four hits. By then, however, the Reds had built a 6-4 lead, off starter Chase Pelletier, and would add one more run in the bottom half to coast to victory. Highlights were reliever Josh Hammett going 2 for 2 with a trip, Noah Kaytor reaching on all three at-bats, and Hesselink going 2 for 2 with a walk and an RBI sac fly.

The Angels season was an up-and-down affair, finishing 7-13-1. However, the team showed resilience, limiting losing streaks to a two-game maximum. Memorable performances included the return of Turner Ripplinger to baseball, the performances from Colin Gudereit, the Broncos boost from Boston Wanner and Nick Zieler, and the gutsy effort from many of our first-year Junior players, pressed into roles and situations by circumstances. Special thanks to the "new Angels" who showed so much commitment to the team this season and to the coaches who kept it all going.