WESTLOCK – The Westlock Red Lions had their bats going early then rode a stellar pitching performance to down the St. Albert Cardinals June 8 at Keller Field.
The victory improved the club to 6-2 in the North Central Alberta Baseball League and cemented their hold on top spot with the Cardinal a game behind at 5-3 — the Parkland Twins and Barrhead Orioles are fighting it out for third and fourth, while the Fort Saskatchewan Red sit in the basement.
The Red Lions were able to score two runs in the first inning, before the Cardinals rallied with three in the top half of the second inning. But their lead was short lived as the Red Lions knocked in three more in the bottom half of the inning, while starter Corson Hanlan locked it down over the final five frames — on the night he gave up five hits, no walks and struck out four, while all three runs the Cardinals scored were unearned. Meanwhile, player/manager Chris Brand ended the night with three RBIs, while Jordan Brand added one RBI and two runs and Nathan Brown chipped in with a pair of runs.
“We had a couple of chances and threatened a few times but weren’t able to score any more runs. The pitchers on both sides really locked it down, but Corson threw a really, really good game,” said Chris Brand. “The Cardinals have a good team for sure, but so far this year every team in the league can win on any given night.”
The Red Lions are home on Thursday, June 15, when they’ll host the Reds at 7:15 p.m., then hit the road the next night to face the Twins and are back home again June 21 when they’ll host the Cardinals again.
“Parkland is a strong team and we’d like to have a good showing against them,” said the skipper.
