A’s bats heat up against Camrose

Both teams came into Tuesday match in need of a big win to keep pace with the rest of the league.  Camrose came into the game 0-5 on the season but showing signs of late of a team not to be taken lightly as they gave the high flying blue jays all they could handle in a tight game game resulting in a 1-0 loss.  Bardo had a 2-4 record and coming off of two straight losses both being lost in the bottom of 7.

Bardo started Chris Mittlestadt for the night in hopes that his veteran leadership could spark the team into a victory.  He started the inning well as he got the first two batters out but ran into some trouble rolling into the meat of the order as a hard hit single and walk would result in one runner in scoring position for the visitors.  A fortunate call of the batter batting well outside the batters box resulted in the 3rd out for the inning and no harm done.

The A’s would do pretty much the same thing as the first two batters were grounded out and struck out.  OF Craig Neufeld would then hit a double to center but nothing would come of that threat.

Mittlestadt would work clean in the second while Bardo’s bottom half of the lineup would show some good patience which result in two straight walks by Keohane and a timely single by Mittlestadt to help his cause and score C Rob Berrecloth from second.  Keohane settle in and struck out the next two batters and got the last out by way of yet another groundout.

The third started out eerily similiar as Mittlestadt got the first two batters out but Tim Mctavish would start a two out rally with a single to right followed by another single by C Bret Keohane.  Mittlestadt worked P Kory Keohane into an inning ending FC to relieve the pressure.

Bardo finally got the bats rolling as they seemed to get their timing off the strange delivery of Keohane and took advantage.  Craig Neufeld would strike a single down the right field line.  Managed to get his legs going in the ol bardo sand trap and stole second.  Ken Braget hit another single to score Neufeld.  Rob Berrecloth would move Braget over to third with another single.  Braget managed to score on a passed ball.  Berrecloth would then take third on another passed ball and scored on an infield hit by Sean Melanson.  The three runs would spot the A’s a 4 run lead going into the 4th.

Camrose would get the ball rolling in the 4th with Barry Cryderman getting a walk. Then moving over to second on a passed ball.  Mittlestadt would then strike out the next two and get a ground out to end the inning.  Bardo turned it up a notch and stringing together 6 hits off of Keohane and scoring 5 runs which put the score up to 9-0.

With the clouds rolling in fast and the wind picking up both teams were hustling on and off the field to ensure the game was going to be finished.  Some dust must have got into the infielders eyes as Camrose put to on board with two straight errors from the home team.  This threat was put to bed with a strike out and to straight ground outs to end the inning.  The home team tried to finish it there with the new 10 run mercy rule in effect but Camrose turned a nice double play to end the inning.

Chris Kallal would get the ball for the 6th inning and the choice showed to be fruitful.  After throwing two straight dirt balls he came into fine form striking out the side with a mix of curves, knuckles, and fastballs that were pounding the strike zone.  He managed to get out of the inning with only throwing 13 pitches.  Sean Melanson got aboard by getting hit by a lazy curve as he tried and dance out of the way.  Mittlestadt would then get on with a fielders choice.  Pete Neufeld got off the snide with a hard hit single to put Mittlestadt in scoring position.  Joel Henriksen would then come up with the “walk off” hit to put the home team up 10-0.

A’s will try and string two wins together as they shift their focus onto Holden.  As long as the rain holds somewhat they will try and get back some self respect after taking a thumping the last time they played.  Game time is 7:00 at the Holden Rec Grounds.

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Craig Neufeld