Patience Pays Off For Raodrunners

The Camrose Raodrunners took to the diamond Thursday night with plans of keeping their playoff hopes alive against the Beaumont Angels at Harry Andreasson Field. The Roadrunners got off to an auspicious start as a couple of errors and a walk dug them an early 3-0 hole against the Angels.

Camrose was able to strike back in the bottom of the first as they put aside the swing first, ask questions later philosophy working 3 walks to put 2 runs on the board. Starter Sheldon Petryshen kept the Angels in check in the 2nd by inducing a couple of fly balls and a strike out, one of four K’s for Petryshen on the day.

After a quiet second, the Angels were able to add to their advantage with a lead off walk and an RBI single from Chad Pysar. The Roadrunners answered back in the bottom of the 3rd using their newfound patience. Beaumont issued 4 walks and Camrose was able to get 3 runs without registering a hit to take the lead.

Aaron Hayes came on in relief for Petryshen in the 4th inning and worked quickly getting a fly ball and 2 ground outs to retire the Angles in order. In the home half of the fourth the Roadrunners added to their lead with some well placed singles and a couple of walks. Eldon Banack started things off with a short single, followed by back to back walks of Tim McTavish and Adam Siebold. Alex Roth was able to bring 2 around to score with a single. Sheldon Petryshen used a single of his own to plate Siebold and Roth was able to score on a wild pitch.

Hayes was back on the mound in the 5th for Camrose and once again worked quickly as the Angels went down in order. Brett Keohane had a lead off walk for the Roadrunners in the bottom of the 5th but 3 pop fly’s ended any threat from Camrose.

Beaumont finally got to Hayes in the top of the 6th inning. After striking out the leadoff batter, Pysar started the Angel rally off with a single. A hit batter, a walk and a 2 run double by Matt Berube followed. The Angels managed to score 2 more after some defensive miscues by the Roadrunners. Hayes ended the inning the same way he started it, with a strike out.

After giving up 4 runs in the top half of the 6th and only a one run lead the Roadrunners were looking to add some insurance in the bottom half. Roth started things off with a single but was erased on a fielders choice. After a fly ball to third produced out number two Josh Banack came on in place of Mark Lawson and hit a shallow single. The threat was erased though after Jordon Banack sent one back to the pitcher who easily made the toss to first.

The book on Hayes was closed with Josh Banack taking to the hill for the 7th looking for his second save of the season. Banack was able to get both Darren Goudreau and Ryan Lehman to pop out to catcher Brett Keohane. A shallow pop fly to Roth in center ended the game as the Roadrunners won their 2nd league game and 3rd overall in a row.

– Submitted by Lucas Banack