Red Lions pitcher Kris Johnson delivers a pitch in the rain during Game 1 of the team’s July 28 doubleheader against the Edmonton Blackhawks at Keller Field.
In what could only be described as a wet and wild week in the North Central Alberta Baseball League, the Westlock Red Lions won two more games before dropping three in a row and falling into the last available playoff spot heading into their final three games of the season.
After rolling over the league-leading Sherwood Park Athletics July 22, by a score of 5-3, for the second time this season and then putting up a decisive 13-7 victory July 24 against the Parkland Twins, the Red Lions’ fortunes were looking up and the NCABL playoffs could be seen just over the horizon.
“Taylor Heck started the first game, he threw really well and our bats took advantage of some timely base hits and Sean Beaudoin came in to close it out for the save,” said skipper Chris Brand.
The game in Spruce Grove against the Twins was “probably one of the wettest games I’ve ever been a part of. It poured on us for five straight innings,” said Brand, who called it a “gutsy win.”
The playoff picture is now longer so clear, as the team will be in tough to keep up the playoff pace as they find a way to get out of the baseball doldrums. In their third road game of the week July 26 against the Edmonton Athletics, the Red Lions fell 5-1.
“That one was a tougher games we’ve lost this year,” said Brand. “The bats weren’t going and our defence wasn’t there, I don’t know if it was a long week or what the deal was, but we weren’t able to get on the right side of the win column. Nothing was there.”
The Red Lions were hopeful to turn things around at home at Keller Field July 28, but their woes with the weather and their bats continued into doubleheader with the Edmonton Blackhawks. The home team fell behind early thanks to a stellar effort on the mound by the visiting pitcher and only managed a single run, in the 10-1 loss that was delayed by heavy rains a couple times.
In the second game of the double header, the Red Lions were shutout 2-0, giving the Blackhawks an 11-7 record, which is good enough to put them into third place, while the Red Lions drop to fourth with a 10-7-1 record, just ahead of the St. Albert Cardinals.
“I don’t think it’s that we’re tired and I wouldn’t call it frustration, we just haven’t been hitting the ball for the last three games now, so it’s just a matter of stringing a few together and maybe getting a little bit of momentum again to finish off the stretch in our final three games,” said Brand.
The Red Lions will play their sixth game in seven days July 29 at Keller Field against the Stony Plain Mets, before hitting the road to take on the Blackhawks in Edmonton July 31.
The final game of the regular season is scheduled for Aug. 8, when the St. Albert Cardinals will visit the Red Lions in a game that could have serious playoff implications for both teams.
