Sweet 16! Prospects Offence Explodes In Big Win
Sweet 16! Prospects Offence Explodes In Big Win
By Len Nunes
The Edmonton Prospects scored at least a run in 7 of 8 innings en route to a 16-2 win over the Brooks Bombers. Every Prospects starting position player collected at least one hit. The win is the Prospects 4th in a row improving their record to 17-18.
Before we go into the plethora of runs scored, let's start by giving the Prospects pitchers their fair due. Taran Oulton drew his 7th start of the year Sunday. Arguably one of the top pitcher's in the WMBL through the first few weeks of the season, the calendar month of July had not been kind to Oulton until he seemingly figured things out versus Brooks. The Bombers did not collect their first hit of the game until the third inning. Two of five Prospects errors on the evening then greased the wheels for Brooks scoring their only two runs. The defence did twice come up with double-plays behind Oulton as the pitcher finished the night with 6 innings played allowing only 4 hits and striking out 5.
The Prospects bullpen pitched three shutout innings to seal the deal. Jordan Smith, Drew Scott, and Josh Sieglitz each threw one inning of no-hit ball. Now for the offence!
Tony Olson led the ballgame off with a single and was brought home on a Nick Spillman single to open the scoring.
Anthony Cusati and Michael Gahan led the bottom of the 2nd inning off with back-to-back singles. Aidan Huggins was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Tony Olson collected a RBI via a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0. The Prospects 3rd run scored on a wild pitch by the Bombers starting pitcher.
With 1-out in the bottom of the 3rd inning Eric Crain hit a single. With 2-out, Gahan drove in Crain with a single to left field making it 4-2 Prospects.
In the bottom of the 4th inning Olson reached on a fielder's choice and came around to score on a Percy Liu groundball out. With the bases empty Spillman hit a double and scored when the Bombers defence committed one of their 5 errors on the afternoon.
With the score 6-2 going into the bottom of the 6th inning the Prospects put up four more runs. With Spillman aboard with a walk, Beaux Guilbeau hit his second home run in three days. Cusati followed that up with a single and was brought home by a Gahan double. Huggins hit a single to center field to score Gahan expanding the lead to 10-2.
The lead grew to 12-2 in the 7th inning when Nick Spillman hit his 2nd double of the game scoring Liu. Spillman would later score on a Crain sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the 8th inning Gahan completed his perfect 5-for-5 night at the plate with a lead-off single. Nitzschke and Huggins each hit singles loading the bases along with Gahan. Olson drew a walk for his 2nd RBI of the night making it 13-2. Liu reached base on a fielder's choice that pushed the score to 14-2. Crain hit a 2-RBI single to end the offensive barrage and bring us to our final score of 16 -2!
PLAYER OF THE GAME
On an afternoon where everyone chipped in, this decision is tough. The nod will go to Michael Gahan and his perfect 5-for-5 at the plate with four singles, a double and 2 RBI.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Toonie Tuesday July 17 vs Regina 7PM
Wednesday July 18 vs Medicine Hat - Faith and Family Day in support of The Mustard Seed - 7PM
Thursday July 19 vs Medicine Hat – Pre-game Business Mixer - 7:05 PM First Pitch
Friday July 20 vs Regina - Edmonton Trappers Night featuring Ron Kittle! 7:05 PM First Pitc