BARRHEAD - The Barrhead Orioles won their first North Central Alberta Baseball League (NCABL) season game, defeating the Edmonton Angels in the first half of a home-field doubleheader on Sunday, May 26.
The NCABL is a senior 'AA' baseball league that kicked off its 58th year with its inaugural game on May 6.
Although Barrhead has had a long history in the league, this is the fourth season for this version of the Orioles.
In the first game, Barrhead defeated Edmonton 5-3 in what co-team governor and player/coach called a strong defensive effort.
Barrhead got off to a good start in the game, scoring one run in the first and second innings while blanking their Edmonton opponents for the first three innings. In the fourth inning, the teams exchanged runs, with the Angels scoring two in the fifth.
Barrhead returned the favour in the sixth inning, blanking the seventh and final inning.
Kayden Rentz got the start for the Orioles, pitching four innings and giving up three runs on three hits. Catcher Lee Worobec came in relief, pitching three innings and giving up on hit and no runs to earn the win.
In the second game, the Orioles nearly snatched a victory from the Angels after storming back in the seventh inning scoring, coming back from a 9-5 score, scoring four runs with the go-ahead run crossing home plate. However, the run was disallowed with a somewhat controversial umpiring call when a Barrhead runner was narrowly called out at first base for their third out.
In the top half of the eighth inning, Edmonton scored one run after the Orioles got into trouble allowing two runners on base before recording their first out and then loading the bases before recording the next two outs.
At the bottom of the inning, Barrhead once again had a chance to close out the game with a win after getting runners on second and third base, with one run out, before Edmonton secured the victory with the final two outs.
"What hurt us was our horrible start, allowing Edmonton to score the first eight runs, mostly due to unforced errors," he said. "Everyone did a good job making sure they focused on the game, waiting for the opportunity to get back into the game."
The Orioles only started practising two weeks before their home opener on May 7 due to a wet start to spring, which included a late dump of snow, with the result being it took a little longer than usual for the sportsgrounds to firm up enough to play on.
"I'm not worried," Visser said following the second game. "It is still early, and we have been on the field practicing for a relatively short time."
He added early in the season the Barrhead offensive is in good shape, with hitters "bats coming alive."
Going into the doubleheader, Barrhead scored 20 runs in their first three games, with four Orioles being in the NCABL Top 10 in hitting average and their Top 8 hitters, hitting .500 or better.
Visser said the team was excited about having more fans cheer them as they play three of their next four games at home.
On June 3, the Orioles take on their Highway 33 rivals, the Westlock Red Lions, at Keller Field before returning to the Barrhead Sportsgrounds to host the return matchup on June 4, then the Legal Primeaus and the Parkland Twins on June 18. All the Barrhead games start at 7:15 p.m.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
