Mounties Bats a SMOKIN... On Weekend!
Posted May 6, 2013
Due to Injuries, School and Church commitments the Mounties traveled to the interior with the minimum number of players allowed (9) for their 3 game weekend. The Mountie players persevered through very hot conditions with temperatures hitting the 30 mark on Sunday. Many players played hurt and the Mounties were on the verge of forfeiting when Yang took a pitch to the throat and Currie had a violent collision with the center field fence, however after long stoppages in play both players were evaluated and able to continue.
Game 1 Saturday Mounties 11 Okanagan 10 (8 Innings)
This was a game that will be easy for the Mounties to forget. There are two parts to every game and the Mounties decided early on that they were only prepared to play the fun part of the game (offence) and did not want any part of the hard work that it takes to play (defence).
Offensively the Mounties were led by Hogan with 5 hits. Yang, Ensing, Gee, Lindeman and Currie all had multiple hit games as the Mounties produced 11 runs on 17 hits.
A horrid defence ruined a solid pitching performance by Hogan. 10 errors forced the Mounties to use 4 pitchers in this one leaving them short on pitching for the next day. It was a tough outing for the team and for the shattered clipboard that was destroyed during the defensive debacle that occurred during this game. The Mounties ended the game getting the final Okanagan out on a strikeout, which was only fitting as they frittered away 3 opportunities to end it earlier in the inning by making 3 consecutive errors. It was a victory that was undeserving and the Mounties were glad to book it out of town with a 11 - 10 extra inning victory.
Game 2 Sunday Mounties 14 Kamloops 8
The Mounties seemed ready for this one and were trying hard to stay hydrated as they knew with only 9 players that the rising temperatures were going to be working against them. Kamloops started their ace Coulter and the Mounties countered with Yang. The Mounties set the tone early in this one scoring first when Yang reached on error and after stealing 2nd and 3rd base scored on Ensing's double off the fence.
Lee started the Mounties off in the 2nd inning winning a 7 pitch battle for a walk. Kingsbury singled, followed by Currie bouncing one over the fence for a ground rule double. Yang drew on with a 6 pitch walk and then Hogan after falling behind 0-2 worked himself on with a walk. Lindeman followed up with a 2 RBI single and when the blitz was over the Mounties scored 5 to take a 6 - 0 lead.
The score stayed that way until the top of the 4th when Hogan cleared the outfield fence scoring Ensing and himself giving the Mounties an 8 - 0 lead. Yang was dealing on the mound but ran into a bit of trouble in the bottom of the 4th when the Jr River Dogs were able to put together 4 hits. Yang recovered striking out the the last two Jr River Dog batters to end the inning while working his way out of the jam. The score was 8 - 4 after 4 complete.
Both teams were shut out in the 5th inning with Kamloops starter Coulter's day ending after he reached the maximum pitch count. The Mounties added 2 more in the 6th when Yang and Ensing singled and both scored when Hogan knocked them in giving the Mounties a 10 - 4 lead. The Jr River Dogs came back in the bottom of the inning scoring 3 runs, Yang close to his maximum of pitched was relieved by Sebben who came in and did a great job to get the Mounties out of the inning.
With the score 10 - 7 Lee Currie, Yang, and Ensing all added insurance runs in the last inning to stake the Mounties to a 14 - 7 lead. The Jr River Dogs plated 1 in the bottom of the 7th to finish out the scoring. Final score Mounties 14 Kamloops 8.
Game 3 Sunday Mounties 15 Kamloops 9
Kamloops looking for a split struck first in this one when they scored 1 in the 1st inning off of Mounties starter Ensing. The Jr River Dogs held the lead until the top of the 3rd when Kingsbury reached on error. It was costly as Currie seized the opportunity and this time hit one that bounced on the other side of the fence and the Mounties were now holding onto a slim 2 - 1 lead.
The Mounties had a rough inning in the 3rd when the Jr River Dogs looked like they were taking over the game scoring 5 runs to lead 6 - 2. Sebben who had been unusually quiet all weekend started to stir from his slumber singling to start off the 4th. By the time the dust settled Sebben added another single later in the inning where the Mounties scored 9 runs ganging up on the Jr River Dog pitching for 8 hits including Currie's 3 run homer; his 2nd consecutive home run of the game.
The Mounties now had a commanding 11 - 6 lead. The scrappy Jr River Dog team scored 3 more in the 5th including a 2 run home run which came within inches of being an out as Mounties center fielder Currie caught the ball on the dead run but his collision with the fence caused his glove to come off with the ball in it and land on the other side of the fence. Gee came in to seal it up, and after walking the first 2 batters, retired the side. Gee pitched scoreless ball for the last 2 innings earning his 2nd save of the weekend.
The Mounties added 2 more in the top of the 6th and closed out the scoring when sleeping giant Sebben soared a 2 run homer that made its way through the branches of one of the many trees at Kamloops beautiful McArthur Island Park . Final Score Mounties 15 Kamloops 9.
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