A look back at the All-Star Challenge
Posted August 7, 2009
2000-2003
The Battle River Baseball League pounded the Powerliners in 2000 and they each traded blows in 2001 and 2002. The game never was able to be played in 2003 due to storms and time constraints. Then a run of PBL victories began – five to be exact – until last year. Here’s a brief look back at the last five years of the Harry Andreassen Challenge with links to full stories:
2004
Camrose Roadrunner and current Tofield Laker Tim McTavish led the way with a 6-for-7 effort, Jason Buzzell and John Spigott each launched home run and the trio of Rene Brisson, Scott Peterson and Steve Ofrim mowed down the Battle River League 16-5.
2005
Pitching was the key as the Powerline All-Stars racked up a convincing 10-0 win over the Battle River All-Stars. The trio of Steve Ofrim, Scott Peterson, and Jeff McDonald allowed only two hits, did not walk a single batter, and struck out seven, facing only 31 Battle River batters over nine innings. McDonald also contributed on offence with a solo home run in the seventh, the only tater of the match.
2006
Back-to-back RBI doubles by John Andreassen of the Camrose Roadrunners and Adam Johnson of the Armena Axemen ignited a four-run rally in the sixth inning, which propelled the Powerline All-Stars to a 9-5 victory over the Battle River All-Stars. The win was the fourth in a row for the Powerline squad in the annual event. 4-2 now for the PBL.
2007
Camrose’s Mike Vikse’s three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the Powerline All-Stars to a 9-6 victory over their Battle River League rivals. The Powerliners used key hits by Axeman Adam Johnson, the Brewers’ Josh Lyons and Roadrunner Paul Ofrim to battle back and take a 6-4 lead after five. Roadrunner brothers Paul and Steve Ofrim book-ended the game around Joel Boettger, each pitching three innings. The Powerliners made it five in a row with the win and took a 5-2 lead in the series.
2008
Killam’s John Kelndorfer hammered a two-run sixth-inning homer over the left-field fence to break open a tie game, and the Battle River League All-Stars went on to defeat their Powerline rivals 8-5. Coronation’s Brant Stickle went the first six innings for the Battle River team and earned player-of-the-game honours. The loss marked the first time since 2002 the Powerliners lost. The overall series moved to 5-3 in favour of the Powerline League.
