BRAVES WALK OFF JAYS IN GAME ONE
Posted July 20, 2017
The Tofield Braves won the franchises first playoff game in style on Thursday night with a 2-1 walkoff win against the Holden Blue Jays. Game one was likely the first PBL Playoff game played in Tofield since the late 90s or early 00s by the Ryley Brewers (records of where games were played are often hard to verify).
Fans would be treated to a pitchers duel between the Braves Corey Epp and the Jays Kyle Muzechka. Epp would pitch one of his best games of the season allowing only five singles and no earned runs in his complete game win. Not to be out done Muzechka would also allow only five hits striking out five in his 6.67 innings of work.
The win was Epp's first playoff win since 2015 with the Ryley Rebels when he would defeat the Rosalind Athletics in game two of their semi-final series. Epp's game one win for the Braves was his sixth of the season, setting a new career high for wins by the right hander in a season.
With Epp and Muzechka pitching well, baserunners and specifically hits were hard to come, especially in critical moments. Both teams would miss opportunities to put runs on the board in the second inning as the Jays would load the bases with no one out in the top half of the inning while the Braves would load the bases in the bottom half with only one out. Both teams would only come away with a lone run each, a sacrifice fly by the Jays and a two out error allowing the Braves to score their run. Clutch hits were not easy to come by on the night as the Jays were 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position and 0 for 7 with two out while the Braves finished the game 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position and 1 for 8 with two out due to the two out game winning single with a runner in scoring position by Nelson.
A first inning single by catcher Chad Nelson would be the first hit and the only hit by the Braves until the bottom of the sixth when second basemen Craig Koughan would lead the inning off with a single. But the big hits would come in the bottom of the seventh for the Braves. Left fielder Craig Neufeld would collect the other hit for the Braves with a sensational bunt that stayed true down the third base line all the way to the base for a single.
With one out, Epp would reach base with a single over the head of the Jays second baseman and a stolen base gave the Braves two outs work with for the win. Centre fielder Dylan Berrecloth would be robbed of a single up the middle when the hard hit ball would be fielded by the Jays shortstop playing up the middle. Now with two out and the winning run at the plate the Jays elected to go after Nelson as opposed to pitching around him to face Rob Berrecloth who had struggled all night against Muzechka, striking out in his previous three at bats. The decision would prove costly as Nelson would single into left field easily scoring Epp from third base and with it game one of the best of three series heading into next week’s game two in Holden.
Thursday night's walk off win is the fourth such win for the Braves this season;
1) Josh McDonald - walk off single May 18 vs Leduc Milleteers (6-5)
2) Shaye Yoder - walk off single July 1 vs Rosalind Athletics (10-9)
3) Mark Lawson - walk off mercy sinlge July 4 vs Camrose Roadrunners (10-0)
4) Chad Nelson - walk off single July 20 vs Holden Blue Jays (2-1)
Game two is scheduled for Tuesday July 25 in Holden as it is expected that the Braves will face right-hander Grayson Suprovich. The Braves on the other hand have yet to announce their starting pitcher for game two with Tom Shulba, Barry Truss and Sean Melanson all available First pitch is scheduled for 7:00pm at the Holden Recreation Grounds.