It was a pitcher's duel at Beaver Lions Stadium Thursday night. Dave Millar pitched a gem to lead the North Battleford Beavers to a 2-0 victory over the St. Walburg Reds.
Millar threw a complete game shutout, striking out six and walking five batters to pick up the win. He gave up just two hits.
His counterpart pitched just as well. Reds starter Zach Hazzard also went the distance, scattering three hits over six innings. Hazzard struck out four and walked four batters while taking the loss.
Blair Geering supplied the offence for the Beavers, going 1 for 3 with two RBIs.
Millar got into trouble in the top of the second inning. After getting Shaun Spence to ground out to third and Kristian Sawyshyn to pop out, Scott Thompson reached first safely on an error. After a walk put runners on first and second, Millar forced a fly ball to Kyle Palmer in right field to get out of the jam.
In the bottom of the second, Tyler Russell drew a walk with one out. Geering then hit into a fielder's choice, forcing Russell out at second base. Geering advanced to second on a passed ball, but CJ Millar popped out to Sheldon Williamson at second to end the inning.
St. Walburg got a two-out rally started in the top of the fourth. Sawyshyn singled and Thompson walked, but Millar induced a groundout to second to keep the game scoreless.
The Beavers got on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the inning. Kyle Gregoire reached first on a throwing error by Hazzard and advanced to second as the ball bounced away from the first baseman. He then took third base on a passed ball. Rory Gregoire walked and stole second without a throw from the catcher. Ryan Shepherd followed with a walk to load the bases. After Russell struck out, Geering singled to score both Gregoires and give the Beavers a 2-0 lead. CJ Millar hit into a fielder's choice and Derrick Chapman grounded out to the pitcher as St. Walburg stopped the bleeding.
Kyle Gregoire threatened to add insurance to the Beavers' lead in the fifth. He drew a two-out walk and stole second. The throw from the catcher bounced away from Williamson and Gregoire hustled to third, narrowly beating the tag. He was left stranded as Rory Gregoire grounded out to Trevor Bailey at shortstop.
Dave Millar pitched himself out of a jam again in the top of the sixth. After giving up a single to Spence, his pick-off attempt missed Russell at first base and Spence scampered to second. Sawyshyn's groundout allowed Spence to reach third base. Thompson followed up with a walk to put runners on the corner. Millar then made up for his error. He stepped off the mound as Thompson broke for second, trapping the runner in a rundown. The Beavers applied the tag before Spence touched home plate to preserve the shutout.
The Reds got two runners on in the top of the seventh with two outs. Millar ended the game when he got Steven Treflak to strike out swinging.
North Battleford improved their record to 2-5 after starting the season 0-4. With the loss, St. Walburg falls to 0-6 on the season.
The Beavers hit the road for their next four games, travelling to play the Wilkie Brewers, Lloydminster Twins, Macklin Lakers and Meadow Lake Sox. Their game at Beaver Lions Stadium is June 27 against the Unity Cardinals. First pitch is 7:30 p.m.
