Rebels, Milleteers, Angels and Rosalind prevail

The Powerline Baseball League’s 2016 campaign kicked off with another Saturday set of matinees and most did not have dramatics but at the same time did not disappoint.

Ryley Rebels right hander Corey Epp was dominant in his first start of the 2016 Powerline Baseball League season, tossing a two-hit 10-0 shutout against the Roadrunners at Ryley Ballpark on Saturday afternoon in a mercy rule shortened game. Read the full story.

The defending champion Armena Royals, greatly retooled in the off-season due to many of the team moving out of town, lost the opener to Leduc 9-4. Steve Pahl got the win and the Milleteers put up 6 runs in the top of the third to put away the Royals who had the Milleteers number the past few years in the regular season. See the Box Score.

In the third and final 2 p.m. start on Saturday, the tradition of battle of the Athletics was back on in sunny Rosalind. Rosalind sent budding ace Brayden Benson who went about his business as he’s continued to establish in his young career, pounding the strike zone and inducing plenty of ground balls. Benson ended up pitching 4 solid innings allowing 2 runs on 5 hits, racking up 4 strikeouts and no walks. Dan Enright came in relief to close out the win for Rosalind, spinning his bending curveball for 3 shutdown innings while earning the save in a 5-2 win over Bardo. Read the full story.

In the night cap, the Beaumont Angels showed they are a force to be reckoned with by heading into Holden and topping the Jays 6-1. Kirk Smith struck out 11 and received Beaumont’s “poultry” of the game award.

The eight teams now have a busy first week as always and Tuesday night’s featured matchup has to be the Leduc Milleteers – Ryley Rebels matchup. Despite the downfall of the Milleteers dynasty, a matchup of these teams is always a treat as they befriend and tweet at each other leading up to and after the games.