Holden Finally Has Something to Talk About

From seemingly nowhere, an exciting game slipped through the overcast Ryley skies. Holden’s first tilt against the Rebels avoided both boredom and disappointment, as the Jays’ twigs finally woke up and controversy birthed a game-changing inning. 

Despite less than ideal conditions both teams arrived prepared and on time, a rarity considering the eight v. eight game between the clubs last season. Ryley sent Craig Koughan to the mound, a choice that would normally silence the anemic Holden offense. Aside from a chintzy run in the first, Koughan worked effectively for three innings, but his counterpart Grayson Soprovich kept pace. Rookie status aside, Soprovich continued his steady PBL debut against what could be considered one of the league’s top offenses. Zak Lang picked up his pitcher in the fourth with a solo bomb, making good on a midweek batting practice session in Vegreville. As the fifth inning rolled around the game appeared to be on the normative Holden script, slowly grinding towards the seventh. 

All signs of normalcy quickly evaporated with a questionable check swing. Working ahead with two outs and a runner on, Koughan appeared to catch left fielder Randall Ziegler waving at a two-strike curve. Apparent from both dugouts, Ziegler clearly offered at the pitch yet the call at the plate remained a ball. Eventually gutting out a walk, Ziegler catalyzed a rarely seen offensive outburst for the Jays. A dropped fly ball scored one, promptly followed by a two-run Logan Skori double and a two-run Steve Hrabec home run. The Jays player-manager will literally never let his team hear the end of this first time dinger. Koughan would settle for the sixth and seventh but the damage was already done, as Holden staked an 8-2 lead. 

Intrigue still filled the final frame, as impromptu closer Colten Ziegler relieved Soprovich and met the invigorated Rebels offense. Two quick outs brought Corey Epp to the plate and the leadoff hitter whipped Ryley into a late rally. Epp and short-stop Brian Tavaroli would come around to score, as Koughlan looked to continue the late rally with what appeared to be a no-doubter of his own. However, the wind finally made its presence felt, turning a guaranteed shot to left center into an extremely long single. A batter later Ziegler would settle and record the final out. The single-inning offensive outburst sets up an interesting affair come next Tuesday when the Jays head to Leduc to take on the first place Milleteers. 

—- Dylan Boyko