The Westlock Red Lions were up and down at Keller Field last week, defeating the St. Albert Cardinals 6-2 July 16 before losing a 16-13 slugfest to the Stony Plain Mets July 19.
With the 1-1 mark the club heads into the all-star break with an 11-7 record and the final playoff seed in the North Central Alberta Baseball League.
“We’re in the Top 4 now,” said skipper Chris Brand.
“All the games we have left are against playoff teams, so in order to move up the standings we have to start winning these games. We have another game against St. Albert next week, so if we can win that one it will put us up two games.”
Against St. Albert the game was tied 1-1 heading into the third inning when Brand, Nathan Swap and Ryan Teske each contributed RBIs to put the Lions up 4-1, while Curtis Burlet held the Cardinals scoreless from the mound.
Burlet and Aaron Watamaniuk added RBIs in the bottom of the sixth to put the Lions up 6-1 and the team hunkered down on defence. St. Albert managed a run in the seventh inning, but it was far too little.
The win vaulted the club past St. Albert for the last playoff spot — Sherwood Park sits in first at 13-3, Stony Plain are second at 12-4 and the Edmonton Blackhawks are third at 12-6-1. The Cardinals, with a 10-8 mark, are one game behind the Red Lions.
Brand said they need as many wins as they can muster over their final four games.
“It was a big win tonight, something we definitely needed,” he said. “The boys just came prepared and were on point. We just have to keep the same mentality, they’re all big games coming down the stretch now, so we have to come in focused. The stretch drive should be fun.”
The club is now on a break while Brand, Burlet, Austin Watamaniuk and Nathan Brown will play in the NCABL All-Star game July 25 at REMAX Field in Edmonton.
Following, the Lions hit the road to face Sherwood Park in a July 27 doubleheader and then play the Cardinals in St. Albert July 31.
