A final inning comeback came up short as the Westlock Red Lions dropped their North Central Alberta Baseball League home opener to the Stony Plain Mets 3-2 last Wednesday.
The club fell behind early, surrendering a run in the top of the first inning, but a two-run third inning put the Red Lions on top.
Their 2-1 lead lasted until the sixth when the Mets notched a home run to tie the game 2-2. The Mets then scored another run over the course of their four-hit sixth inning to take a 3-2 lead.
The Westlock squad had no answer in the bottom of the sixth, while in the bottom of the seventh a two-out rally fell short. The loss evens their record at 1-1.
Manager Adam Sawatzky said the team battled hard even though they didn’t get the result they wanted.
“We gave up one run early, but I thought we stayed in the game. We came back and got the lead,” he said.
“Our defence played well, our batters hit well against one of the best pitchers in the league. Obviously we would have liked a different outcome in our home opener.”
Sawatzky commended the Mets defense that stole the show. A jumping leap to catch a hard line drive by third baseman Bard Walde recorded the final out of the game, stranding the tying and winning runs.
“We battled hard and played a good game, but their defense was unreal for them … usually they’re not nearly that steady of a team,” Sawatzky said.
“They made three or five diving catches and a couple running catches in the outfield that typically I don’t think they would make.
“But that’s the way the game goes.”
The Mets ability to shut down the Red Lions at opportune times, including in the bottom of the seventh, was the tale of the contest.
“That kind of summed up the whole evening for them. They got into trouble and then a great defensive play got them out of it,” he said.
“There’s not much you can do when that happens, you just have to tip your hat to them and hope you come out on the other side next game.”
Sawatzky said the Red Lions will look to build off the many positives and move on.
“There are a lot of positives to take. Defence was good, at bats were good and it was another strong outing from the top of the order,” he said. “I have nothing negative to say about the way we played.”
The Lions play their next NCABL regular--season game on the road in Edmonton against the undefeated Blackhawks May 19 before returning home to host the winless Sherwood Park Athletics at Keller Field May 27.
