The weather was perfect for the North Central Alberta Baseball League (NCABL) All-Star game in Barrhead on Sunday, July 17. The game began beautifully — the national anthem was sung by local resident Mira Agnew, 14, and former Barrhead Blue Jay alumni John Osbourne was honoured by the Orioles and the NCABL, and while both the Leon’s Carpet &Paint and the opposing Beverly Optimists-sponsored teams played extremely well, the game ended 5-4 for the Leon’s Carpet &Paint All-Stars.
Despite an early lead in the first inning — Barrhead Orioles’ Corn Friesen made it across home plate, the Beverly Optimist All-Stars answered back quickly with three of their own in the second, bringing the score from a flawless 1-0 lead, to a less flattering 3-1 score for the opposition.
Regular Orioles’ pitcher Craig Conelly stepped in for Heck in the third, and second-baseman Blair McGeough of the Stony Plain Mets brought one home, bringing the score to 3-2.
The Beverly Optimists managed another run in the fifth, and despite having bases loaded, the Leon’s Carpet &Paint All Stars were unable to capitialize, losing all three prospective runs to a well-timed triple play.
With the score at 4-2 for the Beverly Optimist All Stars, tensions flared and foul-balls flew, but the home team managed to turn it around in ths seventh.
Oriole Brent Wierenga and Edmonton Primeaus’ Kyle Fagnan both made it home, bringing the score to a tied-game at 4-4, before Edmonton Blackhawk Kevin Stork ended the game with a walked ball.
See next week’s Leader for more coverage on John Osborne’s number retirement ceremony.
