Earl Grey Rockets

On a cool night at Rambler Park the Bulyea Rustlers defeated the NB Petro Hawks 14-3 to take the best of 3 semi final series 2-0.  The game went scoreless going into the 3rd inning when Troy Gordon would get the Rustlers going with a 2 run home run.  After adding a run in the 4th Bulyea would add a couple more in the 5th with the big blow being a solo home run from Cory Krahenbil.  The Hawks would get back in the game in their half of the 5th inning when Ron Cote slugged a 2 run home run to make the score 5-2 after 5.  Each team would add a single run in the 6th, but it was the top of the 7th inning when the Rustlers exploded for 8 runs on the strength of home runs from Justin Sievert, Josh Jordan, and Cory Krahenbil (2nd of the game).  The Hawks would go quietly in their half of the 7th inning.  Winning pitcher Justin Sievert pitched all 7 innings giving up 3 runs on 5 hits while striking out 6.  The Rustlers were led offensively by Cory Krahenbil who went 4 for 4 including a walk, single, triple, 2 home runs, 2 runs scored, and 3 rbi's.  Also having a good night for the Rustlers was Lynn Wagner who went 4 for 5 with all hits going for singles.  Chris Bear pitcher all 7 innings striking out 5 for the Hawks in the losing effort.  Offensivley for the Hawks Ron Cote went 1 for 3 with a 2 run home run and Lyle McNab went 2 for 3 with a run scored and rbi.  

The Rambler Park Fastball League semi final series got underway Thursday night.  The early game saw another dominant pitching performance from Little Black Bear's Dusty Keshane who would lead the Blues to a 1-0 win over Silver Screen Sportswear.  Keshane would earn the complete game shutout victory while giving up only 1 hit and striking out 18.  Carlin Bellegarde would go 1 for 2 with a walk and score the Blues lone run of the game.  Terrell Walker went 1 for 2 with a walk.  Losing pitcher Ryan Decosse was also very good on this night.  Decosse give up 1 run on 6 hits while striking out 5 batters.  Silver Screen's lone hit would come from Braden Konschuh who had an infield single, but was later thrown out attempting to steal 2nd base.  Little Black Bear leads the best of 3 semi final 1-0. 

The late game featured game #1 of the best of 3 semi final series between the NB Petro Hawks and the Bulyea Rustlers.  Both teams would get the bats working early as the Hawks would score 3 runs in the top of the first inning with hits from JJ Poitras, Jared Bitternose, and Jayden Isaac.  But the Rustlers would match the 3 run output in the bottom half of the first on the strength of a 2 run home run from Troy Gordon along with hits from Peter Hill and Justin Sievert.  Bulyea would add another run in the 2nd inning on a solo home run from Jon Krahenbil to take a 4-3 lead.  In the top of the 4th inning the see saw battle continued when Jay Bear connected for a 2 run home run to put the Hawks back out in front 5-4.  The Hawks would then connect for another 2 run home run in the top of the 6th inning off the bat of Ron Cote to give them a 7-4 lead.  Down 3 the Rustlers would rally in their half of the 6th inning.  With 1 away Caleb Wagner singled, Tucker Slough walked, then Jon Krahenbil would connect on his second home run of the game this time a 3 run shot to tie the game at 7.  The very next batter Troy Gordon would also hit his second home run of the game and that would prove to be the difference as the Rustlers defeated the Hawks 8-7.  Winning pitcher Justin Sievert threw 6 innings giving up 5 earned runs on 5 hits while striking out 5.  Colin McLeod would earn the save by pitching a scoreless 7th inning.  Leading the way offensively for Bulyea was Jon Krahenbil who was 2 for 3 with 2 home runs, 2 runs scored, and 4 rbi's.  Troy Gordon would also have a great night going 3 for 4 with 2 home runs, 2 runs scored, and 3 rbi's.  Losing pitcher JJ Poitras pitched 6 innings giving up 8 runs on 9 hits and struck out 6.  Poitras would go 2 for 4 at the plate with 1 run scored.  Bulyea leads the best of 3 semi final 1-0.

Wednesday nights games have been rained out.  Weather permitting we will start both semi final series tomorrow night.

In Tuesday's Western Cycle Rambler Park Fastball League Playoffs we had two quarter final series playing a 3rd and deciding game.  In the first game the Bulyea Rustlers would break a 2-1 game wide open in the 3rd inning by exploding for 10 runs.  Bulyea would cruise to a 17-1 victory in 4 innings.  Colin McLeod pitched all 4 innings for Bulyea giving up 1 run on 7 hits and striking out 3 to earn the pitching victory.  McLeod would also have a nice night at the plate going 2 for 3 including 2 doubles, 2 runs scored, and 3 rbi's.  Also contributing for Bulyea was Josh Jordan who went 2 for 4 with a homerun, 3 runs scored, and 4 rbi.  Brian Poitras pitched 3 innings and took the loss on the mound for the Rez.  Trey Poitras had a good night going 2 for 2 scoring the lone Muscowpetung run.  The Bulyea Rustlers will now go on to face the NB Petro Hawks in a best of 3 semi final series.

In the night cap at Rambler Park we were once again treated to a pitchers duel featuring Dean Holoien of the Moose Jaw Canadians and Dusty Keshane of the Little Black Bear Blues.  In a game where base runners would be very hard to come by, Little Black Bear was able to squeak a run across in the bottom of the 4th inning on the strength of leadoff single from Terrell Walker, a Canadians error, and 2 wild pitches.  That would prove to be the difference as Little Black Bear would come out on top with the 1-0 victory.  Dusty Keshane was once again dominant in picking up the shutout victory.  Keshane would give up only 1 hit while striking out 20 Canadians hitters.  Offensively for the Blues Terrell Walker was 1 for 3 with 1 run scored.  Dean Holoien was equally as dominant on this night but deserved a better fate while picking up the loss on the mound.  Holoien would only give up 1 hit and struck out 16 Blues hitters in his 6 innings of work.  Jeff Weekes had the lone hit for Moose Jaw.  The Little Black Bear Blues now face Silver Screen Sportswear in the other best of 3 semi final series.

It was a busy night in the Rambler Park Fastball League Playoffs on Thursday with all 4 quarter final series playing game #2.

In the first game at Rambler Park the Bulyea Rustlers would force a game 3 with a decisive 17-3 victory over the Muscowpetung Rez.  Colin McLeod would earn the victory pitching all 5 innings allowing 3 runs on 6 hits while striking out 3.  Leading the way offensively for Bulyea was Josh Jordan who went 3 for 3 including 2 home runs, triple, walk, 4 runs scored, and 5 rbi's.  Michael Jordan would go 3 for 4 including a double, 3 runs scored, and an rbi.  Justin Sievert also had a good night going 3 for 4 with a home run, 3 runs scored, and 4 rbi's.  Pitching 2+ innings for the Rez and taking the loss was Jonah Agecoutay.  Ron Peigan would go 1 for 3 including a home run in the losing effort. 

In the late game at Rambler Park the Regina Gold were trying to force a deciding game 3 in their series against the NB Petro Hawks.  The Hawks would prevail taking game 2 by a score of 12 - 8.  JJ Poitras was the winning pitcher while Stephen Kwasnicki took the loss.  The Hawks win the best of 3 quarter final series 2-0.

In the early game in Moose Jaw the Giants were playing host to Silver Screen Sportswear trying to tie the series at 1 game each.  The Giants held a 4-1 lead going into the 4th inning, but Silver Screen would quickly erase that deficit by putting up 4 runs in their half of the inning.  They would also add a run in the 6th and 2 in the 7th.  The Giants would score 2 in the bottom of 7, but it wasn't enough as Silver Screen eliminated the Moose Jaw Giants with an 8-6 victory.  Winning pitcher Wade Hebig would throw 6 innings.  Ryan Decosse came in relief to pitch the 7th.  Offensively for Silver Screen they would get home runs from Shane Graefer and Bart Mihalicz.  Throwing all 7 innings and taking the loss for the Giants was Dale Garthus.  Homering for the Giants was Todd Whitehead and S. Moerike.  Silver Screen wins the best of 3 quarter final 2-0.

The late game at Memorial Field in Moose Jaw was game 2 in what has easily been the best quarter final series of the playoffs featuring the Moose Jaw Canadians vs. Little Black Bear Blues.  Once again Dean Holoien and Dusty Keshane would go toe to toe in another pitchers duel.  The Canadians would jump out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair in the bottom of the 1st inning.  Little Black Bear would chip away at the lead with solo home runs from Terrell Walker and Travis Walker in the 3rd and 4th inning to knot the game at 2-2.  With both pitchers settling in Little Black Bear would threaten in the top of the 6th inning getting a pair of runners on base, but Holoien would strike out the side to end the threat.  In the bottom of the 6th it was the Canadians turn to threaten.  With the bases loaded Keshane would walk X Tremblay allowing Holoien to score.  Dane Roy would later score on a passed ball to make the score 4-2.  This would turn out to be the final score which means that this series will go to a 3rd and deciding game.  Winning pitcher Dean Holoien would pitch 7 innings giving up 2 runs on 4 hits and striking out 18 batters.  Dusty Keshane took the loss giving up 4 runs on 7 hits while striking out 15 batters.