Milleteers Comeback To Win Extra Inning Slugfest

The Milleteers travelled to Ryley tonight riding a six game win streak to start the season to play the struggling Rebels. It was the Rebels that looked like the hotter team early on as they quickly jumped on Milleteers starter Shawn Brinkworth, who had been tough up until this outing this season. A combination of walks and hard hits chased Brinkworth from the mound in the second after he had given up six runs. In a Lou Pinnella style move the Milleteers brought in closer Kevin Doyle to try and stop the hard hitting Rebels, but he struggled to find the zone as well and when he did they hit him hard too. After three innings the Rebels were up 8-1. It probably could have been even more lopsided, but the Milleteers defense held together to knock down some hard hit balls.

 

 

The Milleteers then turned to hard throwing enigma Brad Engel, who struggled mightily to find the strike zone last season. Luckily he found it tonight as he got through 1.2 innings unscored upon before turning it over to flame throwing rookie Jon Anstey. This seemed to spark the Milleteers offense as they finally started to get to Rebel’s starter Kris Kushnerick as they got a couple in the 5th and then put up a five spot in the 6th, including a two run shot from cleanup hitter Steven Pahl, to tie the contest. Brad Engel chipped in four hits and Jon Anstey scored four runs to help pace the offense, but it was really a team effort top to bottom that allowed for the comeback.

 

After the Milleteers were blanked in the top of the 7th the Rebels threatened as they had the winning run on 3rd with two outs. After a weak chopper down the line and a bang bang play at first was ruled an out the game was sent to extras. The Milleteers finally got Kushnerick out of the game in the 8th as they pushed a couple of runs across before Ryley brought in a knuckle baller to befuddle the hitters and end the threat. In the bottom half Anstey got out unscathed to preserve the come from behind win and cap a wild comeback from a shorthanded Milleteers squad. The Milleteers won’t have much time to rest as they will square off against the Bardo Athletics in a battle for first tomorrow in Leduc.