Grudge match very entertaining

By Ken Johnston
Editor

They called it a grudge match, but in more ways than one, it was more like an All-star game!
The Rainy River Royals and Pinewood Bears held a fastball game in Rainy River on Saturday to a large crowd’s delight.
Each team had players that play now and some that used to play for their respective teams.
The Bears jumped to an early lead when Kyle Langlais drew a walk off Royals hurler Murray Armstrong and was then slugged home by John Desaulniers.
The Royals tried to get something going in the bottom of that inning with Rick Tymkin hitting a single to be followed up by Guy Arpin doing the same thing two batters later. However, Arpin’s hit forced Tymkin out at second and Bears pitcher John Desaulniers struck out Wes Blight and Don Gall to leave the Bears up 1-0 after the first inning.
Earl Ivall flied out in the 2nd for the Bears and Billy Olson was stranded on first base after Armstrong struck out Kirk Wood and Ken Vogan.
Desaulniers was also stellar in the second earning two Ks against Jim Chorney and Murray Armstrong. Marty Armstrong was then thrown out at first on a hit to short-stop.
The Bears couldn’t get things going in the third either. Shane Aikenhead was stranded on second and Dan Usiski, Jr. and Desaulniers flew out.
The Royals then notched a score to tie the game after three. Walter Wagner hit a single. He was advanced when Cam Hanson hit but was thrown out at first. Rick Tymkin then hit a single to move Wagner to third. Arpin then hit a single to earn an RBI and score Wagner. It was 1-1 after three.
But the Bears liked their early lead and wanted it back. Tom Armstrong started things off with a triple and was then brought home with a sacrifice fly by Earl Ivall. That saw them take a 2-1 lead that they would maintain until the seventh inning.
Neither team could get much going with outstanding pitching shutting down offense. Then in the bottom of the seventh, the Bears put Kirk Wood into pitch. Wood gave up a single to Marty Armstrong and then hit two players in a row with pitches. Both Walter Wagner and John Asselin advanced to load the bases. Rick Tymkin would then hit a single to bring in the tying run.
Wes Blight then stepped up and hit a single to bring in the winning run for Rainy River. Final score was 3-2. Afterwards, the teams put all grudges aside and posed together for pitches.