The North Battleford Beavers split a double header Tuesday night at Beaver Lions Stadium, picking up their first win of the 2014 NSRBL in the process.
In game one, Tyler Russell allowed two hits and one run over six innings en route to a 4-1 Beavers' win over the Mervin Flyers. Russell also struck out one batter.
The Beavers got the scoring going in the bottom of the second inning. Centre-fielder Kyle Palmer drew a walk to lead off the inning. Following a stolen base, Mervin pitcher Jesse Bannerman threw the ball into centre field trying to pick Palmer off second, allowing the runner to advance to third. First-baseman Rory Gregoire cashed in Palmer with a sacrifice fly in the next at bat.
With two outs in the second, designated hitter Ryan Shepherd drew a two-out walk. Left-fielder Blair Geering was up next and he drove a double into right field, scoring Shepherd from first. The Beavers almost added more in the inning, but Derrick Chapman hit a ball just foul. He grounded out later in the at bat to end the inning.
North Battleford added another run in the bottom of the third. Catcher CJ Millar drew a walk with one out. Right-fielder Kyle Gregoire laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Millar to second. With two outs, Kyle Gregoire took Millar's place on base to allow the catcher time to prepare for the next inning. Gregoire advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring on a wild pitch later in the inning to put the Beavers up 3-0.
The Beavers tacked on a fourth run in the fifth. Millar was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch. Kyle Gregoire hit a double down the right-field line, scoring Millar to give North Battleford a 4-0 lead.
Mervin broke the shutout in the top of the sixth. Centre-fielder Mitch Perkins led off the inning with an infield single. After Russell walked right-fielder Brody Gervais and catcher Zach Macnab to load the bases, Jordan Macnab grounded out to third as Perkins scored from third to make it a 4-1 game.
The Flyers threatened in the top of the seventh, loading the bases as Carson Gray walked, Dustin Macnab reached on a fielder's choice and Perkins walked. Shepherd came in to pitch for Russell and induced a double play from Gervais to end the game.
In the second half of the double header, Standard Hill had a four-run third inning as the Lakers beat the Beavers 5-2. The game was rescheduled from June 4 due to poor field conditions.
The Beavers kept the momentum going from their win in the first game of the evening to score two in the bottom of the first inning. Third-baseman David Millar singled to centre and both Kyle Gregoire and Palmer walked to load the bases with one out. Geering grounded to third base, but Nate Blanchette's throw to second base pulled Nic Weston off the base. Millar was forced home and in a display of smart base running, Gregoire scored from second on the error.
Standard Hill responded in the top of the second. Gary Burgess walked and Shawn Rhinehart was hit by Beavers starting pitcher Shepherd's pitch. After a wild pitch that advanced both runners, Blanchette grounded out to Aaron Cadrin at short allowing Burgess to score.
The Lakers broke the game open in the top of the third. Garry Pauls reached base on an error by Beavers second-baseman Jhon Nunez. Pauls stole second and advanced to third on Dylan Kuffner's infield single. After Brant Franks popped out, Weston drove in Pauls and Kuffner with a double to right field. David Spangenberg singled to centre field and Weston attempted to score from second, but Palmer's throw from the outfield beat the runner to the plate for the out. The throw home allowed Spangenberg to take second. Nunez's second error of the inning allowed Burgess to reach base and Spangenberg to make it to third. He then scored on a wild pitch. Rhinehart doubled Burgess home to put the Lakers up 5-2.
The double ended Shepherd's night as Kyle Gregoire came in to pitch. After hitting Blanchette and walking Joseph Hegel, he struck out Pauls to end the inning.
The pitchers settled the game down starting in the bottom of the third. Kuffner pitched four innings for the Lakers, giving up three hits and striking out three batters to earn the win. Brad Holfeld came out of the bullpen for the final three innings and did not allow a Beavers' runner past second base.
Gregoire pitched well in relief for North Battleford. He struck out 10 batters in four and two thirds innings of action, allowing two hits with two walks.
The Beavers' next game is Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. against the St. Walburg Reds at Beaver Lions Stadium. Also Thursday, Mervin travels to Macklin. Standard Hill is off until they host Meadow Lake June 18.
