WESTLOCK – The Westlock Red Lions were unable to overcome an early-inning, five-run deficit in an 8-5 defeat at the hands of the Barrhead Orioles.
Played at Orioles Park in Barrhead May 31, the Orioles soared to a 5-0 lead in their half of the second inning, then tacked on three more runs over the remainder before the Red Lions were able to rally in the seventh and, as player/manager Chris Brand put it, “make it reasonable.”
And while the victory was only the second for the Orioles, who sit at 2-3 and in fourth place in the North Central Alberta Baseball League, they’ve consistently played the Red Lions tough over the past two years and put a scare into them early in the year during a wild 15-11 Red Lions victory May 16 in Westlock.
“The Orioles played a really good ball game yesterday. They made a lot of contact and found holes and they had a pitcher who we hadn’t seen before that threw really well and then they played sound defence,” said Brand June 1.
“But it was a long week for us. We had four games in six days, plus the baseball camp last weekend. So, the long and short of it, I was happy with our effort.”
The club’s been on the road for five-straight games and are looking forward to getting back to the friendly confines of Keller Field when they host the St. Albert Cardinals this Thursday, June 8, at 7 p.m. Following June 1 league action, the Red Lions stand in first in the NCABL at 5-2, with the Cardinals perched in second with a record of 4-2, while the Parkland Twins occupy third at 3-3 and the Fort Saskatchewan Reds are in the cellar at 0-4.
“We’re looking forward to coming home. The guys are slowly rounding into form and hopefully now we can go on another run again,” Brand added.
