Around The PBL: May 27 - May 30

The 2019 season is shaping up to be an exciting race not only for the pennant but also for a Wild Card berth as teams begin to clump together heading into week three. Atop the standings the Armena Royals will try to hold off the Holden Blue Jays, with the two unbeaten teams meeting on Thursday May 30 in Armena. It will be the most aniticapted game of the week with the two teams meeting for the first time since game three of their 2018 PBL Semi-Final Series. In the battle for the right to play in the Wild Card Game, the Edmonton Expos, Camrose Roadrunners, Tofield Braves and Camrose Axemen are within a game of each for those two final playoffs spots heading into the week. The Rosalind Athletics will have a great opportunity to get back into the pennant race this week as they will play the Sherwood Park Athletics on Tuesday night and the Camrose Axemen on Thursday, both at the Homer Dome in Rosalind. Should Holden lose or Armena struggle this week in their two games, Rosalind could climb towards first. 

Monday May 27

Armena Royals - 14

Edmonton Expos - 4

The Armena Royals remain perfect on the season with their fifth win, knocking off the Expos in only six innings. No details about the game were made available. It was a dramatic swing in momentum for the Expos, who on Friday defeated the Leduc Milleteers 10-0. Edmonton will be right back on the field tomorrow night, playing their third game in five days while the Royals will host the Holden Blue Jays on Thursday night in Armena. 

Tuesday May 28

Sherwood Park Athletics - 0 

Rosalind Athletics - 7

The Sherwood Park Athletics dropped a bombshell on the Powerline Baseball League on Tuesday afternoon when they announced they would not be proceeding with the remaining season. The League Executive will need to decide on what will happen to the Athletics schedule. 

Camrose Roadrunners - 2 

Tofield Braves - 12

A five inning blow out by the Tofield Braves gives them a two game winning streak after dropping their previous three in a row. Details weren't immediately available, however Josh McDonald would finish the game 2 for 4 with another big double for the Braves. 

Edmonton Expos - 15 

Leduc Milleteers - 1

It was another tough loss for the Milleteers, and another big loss at the hands of the Expos. On Friday May 24 the Expos would hand the Milleteers a 10-0 loss and on Tuesday would win 15-1 to outscore the Milleteers 25-1 in their season series. Reports from the game indicate that the Expos started with eight players, buidling a 4-1 lead before their ninth player arrived driving the score to 15-1.

Wednesday May 29

Camrose Roadrunners - 7

Sherwood Park Athletics - 0

For the time being, the game will go down as a forfeit win for the Camrose Roadrunners as the Sherwood Park Athletics folded up shop on Tuesday afternoon. The League Executive is expected to vote on how to handle the Athletics schedule, both games already played, and the remaining ten games. This vote should be finalized on Friday. 

Thursday May 30

Camrose Axemen - 3

Rosalind Athletics - 4

The young Camrose Axemen would hold their own against the veteran Rosalind Athletics at the Homer Dome on Thursday night. Griffin Lorenz got the start for the A's and they would need a walk-off bases loaded walk in the bottom of the 7th for Rosalind to secure the win. Reports out of Rosalind had the Axemen out hitting the Athletics while also standing tall on defence. However a win just wasn't in the cards for the Axemen tonight and will have to go down as a learning experice for the youngsters. 

Holden Blue Jays - 4

Armena Royals - 7

The game of the week, and probably the most anticipated matchup of this early season, came down to what was described as a comedy of errors. The Jays however, couldn't have found it that funny after the errors led to them squandering a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Royals played like the first place team that they are by chipping away with back to back three run innings to put the game away on this smoky Thursday night. The win moves the Royals to a game and a half lead over the Blue Jays who remain in second place.