Barrhead Orioles split pair of games

BARRHEAD - The Barrhead Orioles split a pair of North Central Alberta Baseball League (NCABL) games last week.

In their first game, at home on June 5, the Orioles defeated the Legal Primeaus 28-7 in five innings.

The game was called early due to time. The split puts Barrhead's record at one game below .500, with three wins versus four losses, putting them in third in the six-team league.

The Primeaus outscored the home squad 6-3 in the first inning. The Orioles rebounded in the second, scoring three runs on two hits thanks largely to solid base running, while blanking Legal in the top half of the inning.

Both teams were held scoreless in the third inning.

The Orioles broke the game open in the fourth inning, circling through the batting order twice, outscoring their opponents 10-0 on four hits when Legal relief pitcher Logan Lutz ran into control issues walking several batters.

In the final inning, the Orioles added to their lead by outscoring their opponents once again, 2 to 1.

Johnny Klein went the distance on the mound for the Orioles to earn the win.

In the second game, the next day, Barrhead dropped an 11-7 road decision to the Westlock Red Lions.

After the second game, Barrhead governor and third baseman Chase Visser said the Orioles lost the game in the first inning.

"We started well, scoring three runs in the top of the first, but we couldn't hold them, and they scored six runs on us in their half of the inning," he said. "It was too big of a hole, and we just ran out of time."

Visser said that so far, in the young NCABL season, most of the games seem to be dominated by offences.

This is especially true, he said, for the Orioles.

"We've been hitting really well this year," he said, adding the high scores were OK with him. "It is really good to see. Everyone feels good, and it keeps players in the game knowing no lead is safe."

As for why the offences were leading the way, Visser said that is often the way it is early in the season, as teams have not had much time to practice.

He said that was especially true this year, as a wet April meant many of the ball diamonds were inaccessible until shortly before opening day.

"I expect the offensive/defensive sides of the ball will start to even out later in the season, and players will be making fewer errors, and the pitching will improve."

However, until then, Visser said, he was OK seeing batters dominate the game.

Unless he is the one pitching, he joked.

The Oriole's next game will be against the Edmonton Reds at the Barrhead Sportsgrounds on June 12 against the Edmonton Reds.

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com