Leduc wins tournament, but Lehman steals the show
Posted May 16, 2010
The Leduc Milleteers won two baseball games in the first Armena-hosted men’s baseball tournament in modern day history, but it was Bardo’s Ray Lehman who won the hearts of small-town Alberta.
The Milleteers knocked off Bardo and Ryley before dispersing quickly from Armena Anniversary Park as champions. The Ryley Rebels had knocked off the host Armena Royals 7-0 in the opening game of the day – a game that featured very few hits, just 2-0 after six – until the Rebels broke out with a five-run seventh. Kris Kushnerick had a perfect game heading into the fifth frame until Ian Sherbaniuk broke things up with a single down the third base line.
Following the lightning fast championship game held at 2:30 p.m. to accomodate the Rebels stag for Kris Kushnerick and give the Armena Royals the last slot of the day, nine players tried their hand at launching a HR in the tournament’s HR Derby.
Bardo’s Craig Neufield, Ken Braget, Rob Berrecloth and Ray Lehman; Ryley’s Kyle and Kevin Reinholt, Ryan Mehler and Kris Kushnerick; and Armena’s Jason Buzzell tried their hand at the feat. No Leduc player entered the competition.
No one could find their stroke until the very last batter – Ray Lehman – launched his third swing over the left field fence to secure the victory. He came close a second time but the ball was hit more to left-centre. He then turned away tournament coordinator Jason Buzzell and said to donate the money to the umpiring fund for the day to help cover the costs.
Bardo then clipped the Royals 8-1, whose stagnant offence will need to improve if they want to make playoffs this season.
That concluded the preseason for the PBL and the regular season now begins Tuesday.
Posted on May 16, 2010 by Jason Buzzell
