Stars gave fans a game to remember in Rainy River

By Ken Johnston
Editor

The Rainy River District Fastball League’s annual All-star Game was all it should be last Thursday in Rainy River. It had stars, dominant pitching and a come from behind finish!
Team Gemmell was named the visiting team. They were Jeff Morrison, Guy Arpin, Ryan Windego, Linden Indian, Chris Jack, Vaughan Wilson, Brad Wakefield, Chad Smith, Mike Anderson, Nick Hunter, Kyle Copenace and Pearce Jackson. Their manager was Kevin Gemmell.
The home team, Team McKinnon was first to light up the scoreboard in the bottom of the first. They were Travis Tom, Murray Armstrong, Sean Comegan, Joe Letander, Kurtis Wepruk, Jesse Tom, Duane Carlson, Dakota Andy, Andrew Easton, Matt Sweigart, Ryan Smith, Rob McGinnis and Marcel Pagee. Their manager was Derek McKinnon.
After a three up three down start for Gemmell’s men, McKinnon’s Marcel Pagee started things off against pitcher Jeff Morrison, hitting a double. Jesse Tom, then hit a home run to score two.
In the top of the second, McKinnon’s Travis Tom remained strong on the mound with another three up three down inning.
McKinnon’s bats continued to hit Morrison in the second. Duane Carlson started things off with a single. Then Morrison struck two out before Pagee stepped up again hitting a double to score Carlson. Dakota Andy then hit a single and stole second before Morrison would end the inning striking out Jesse Tom. After two it was 3-0 for McKinnon.
In the third Gemmell’s crew almost broke through when Kyle Copenace singled to start and was followed by a double by Brad Wakefield. However, Copenace was thrown out at third on that play. Travis Tom then struck out two, stranding Wakefield and kept Gemmell’s gang off the board.
In the bottom of the third Kurtis Wepruk singled and was then driven home by a Travis Tom double. Carlson then smacked a single to score Tom. At the end of three it was 5-0 and it appeared that McKinnon’s team was going to run away with the win.
But Team Gemmell had different thoughts on the outcome. Vaughn Wilson stepped up to the plate to start the fourth and hit a solo homer to erase the goose egg on the board. Guy Arpin was put in the game to relieve Morrison. He hit a single and was then brought home by a double by Chris Jack. Two batters later Jack scored off a Kyle Copenace double. It was now a 5-3 game in favour of McKinnon.
Arpin took the mound in the bottom of the fourth and made quick work of McKinnon’s batters.
Gemmell saw Nick Hunter get stranded in the top of five, but could not add any more points.
Kurtis Wepruk hit a single off Arpin in the bottom of the inning and would score off a double by Murray Armstrong who came in to relieve Travis Tom, to widen their lead 6-3.
In the top of the sixth, coach Gemmell came into the game for Ryan Windego. He hit a solo homer to bring his team within two runs.
Arpin was strong again in the bottom of the sixth facing only four batters and stranding one of them.
In the top of the seventh the game looked like it might end right there. Wakefield started things off with a single and would then steal second and third. Pearse Jackson then hit a pop fly to go out. He was followed by Hunter who struck out. Wilson then hit a single and stole second. With two men on base and two out, Linden Indian stepped up to the plate. It wasn’t long and he had a full count. The crowd was on the edge of their seats when the pitch came. Linden swung with all his might and put the ball over the fence! He hit a three run homer, which would turn out to be the game winning play! He was followed at the plate by Arpin who then hit an insurance homer before Armstrong retired the final out. Gemmell now lead 8-6.
Murray Armstrong then took to the plate and hit a single. He was replaced by Travis Tom on the bases. However, Tom would be forced out at second when Carlson hit a single. Arpin then struck out the next two batters to clinch the win for team Gemmell 8-6!