Pirates win game 1 - Mavs Force Game 3

Facing elimination, the Minnedosa Mavericks picked up a 12-8 win over the Portage Padres last night to force a third and deciding game next Wednesday in Portage.In the other semifinal, the Plumas Pirates drew first blood in the best of 3 with an 8-3 win to open there series.  

In Minnedosa, Devin Foord picked up the win for the Mavericks. He threw 5 2/3 innings giving up 7 runs,4 earned on 7 hits, he struck out 4 and walked 4. . Chad Melnic took the loss for Portage throwing 4+ innings giving up 9 runs, 7 earned on  9 hits, he walked 3 and hit 3 batters. The Minnedosa defense was hot and cold all night in front of Foord. They turned an inning ending double play in the first and second inning, a diving catch in the 3rd inning, but made 4 errors in the 4th inning where the Padres would make them pay putting up a 4 spot to tie the game. Luke Gugin had a night going 2-3 with a 2 run HR, a double, hit by pitch and 2 runs scored. Devin Foord helped himself reaching base 3 times and scoring 2 runs, Andrew Richards helped the cause by going 3-5 with 2 doubles, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored. Richards would also come in to get the final 4 outs in relief of Foord. 
For Portage, Riley Borody was unstoppable at the plate going 3-3 with a long homerun and 2 singles, he would also reach base twice more with a walk and a hit by pitch and score 2 runs. Tanner Jago was 1-2 with 3 walks, meanwhile Jace Boychuk was 2-4 with a walk and a run scored. The 3rd and deciding game goes next Wednesday in Portage at 6:45.

In Neepawa - Riley McBride showed off why he is an allstar getting the win on the mound throwing 6 quality innings on giving up 4 hits, and striking out 8. Offensively he would proceed to bat 3-5, including a triple, RBI, and scoring 3 runs. Carter Schettler went 2-5 and drove in 3 runs, and Rylan Denbow went 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Denbow would come in to pitch the 7th for Plumas to seal the deal. 

 Garrett Rempel took the loss for Neepawa, he struggled a little, and had some unfortunate errors behind him didnt help. 
Neepawa will have some time to rebound as game 2 goes Monday in Plumas.