WALK OFF WIN FOR BRAVES IN HOME OPENER

After blowing a lead in the top of the seventh inning against the Leduc Milleteers, the Tofield Braves needed a two out RBI single from Josh McDonald in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure the franchises first win. The victory moves the Braves to 1-1 on the season after two weeks of games impacted by rain. 

It was a great evening for baseball in Tofield on Thursday night, the first Powerline Baseball League action at the Tofield Sports Grounds since July 1 2010 when the Ryley Rebels and Armena Royals played a league game at the annual Canada Day Tournament hosted by the Lakers. Fans would leave park happy as the Braves would score three runs in the bottom of the seventh against veteran pitcher Steve Pahl. Earning the win for the Braves was former Bardo Athletics and Tofield Lakers pitcher Sean Melanson. 

Tofield would send longtime PBLer and Bardo Athletic Chris Middlestat to the hill to challenge Kirk Smith of the Leduc Milleteers. Smith returns to the Milleteers after spending the last few seasons with the Beaumont Angels, who are in a hiatus for 2017 due to player availability. 

Middlestat was in control for much of his four innings of work allowing only three hits and a lone run against the five time PBL Champion Milleteers. Despite giving up four walks, Middlestat would stand five Leduc baserunners, two in scoring position, before exiting with a 3-1 lead. The Braves called upon Melanson to close out the game but the right hander would run into problems in the top of the seventh against the veteran Milleteers. 

The first four Leduc hitters would reach safely on three singles and an error setting up their big inning. Three of the four would eventually come around to score putting the Braves into a 5-3 deficit with the home half of the seventh coming up. Time for a walk off win. 

Catcher Chad Nelson would start the inning with a single ahead of a single off the bat of Melanson. With two runners on, the Braves would catch a break to tie the game. Second baseman Rob Berrecloth would send a fly ball to left field to score Nelson on a sacrifice fly. However an overthrow on the play by the Milleteers would allow Melanson to advance home to tie the game at 5-5. 

Braves right fielder Josh McDonald would play hero in the home opener

A one out single by third baseman Craig Koughan and a passed ball would move pinch runner Barry Truss into scoring position as the winning run. Pahl would strikeout Craig Neufeld for out number two to set up a matchup against McDonald, who struck out in the sixth inning against Pahl. McDonald would not let Pahl beat him twice as a single off the bat of the lefty would score Truss, giving the Braves the 6-5 win in what was a dramatic seventh inning of lead changes. 

The Braves offence as a unit would collect nine base hits on the night with Rob Berrecloth leading the way going 1 for 2 with a walk, sacrifice fly and a pair of RBIs. Centre fielder Dylan Berrecloth would go 2 for 4 with a RBI and run scored in the lead off position for the Braves while former Rebel Craig Koughan (2 for 3 with a RBI), Barry Truss (run scored)  and Chad Nelson (1 for 3 with 2 runs scored) and longtime Bardo Athletic Craig Neufeld (1 for 3 with a double and run scored) would all make their season debuts for the Braves. 

The next action for the Braves will be Tuesday May 23 when the 2016 PBL runner up, Armena Royals will make the trek to Tofield for a 7:00pm first pitch. The Royals are coming in to the game after a 3-2 loss on Tuesday May 16 to the Holden Blue Jays and a postponement of their rematch with the Rosalind Athletics on Thursday night due to the weather. 

PBL Standings as of Friday May 19