Rainy's ball season ends

By Ken Johnston
Editor

The Rainy River Royals fastball team’s season came to an end last Tuesday evening when they hosted Stratton Eagles in the playoffs.
It was a close game all the way through with neither team gaining the upper hand for long. In the bottom of the first inning the Royals drew first blood. After lead off hitter Kam Kuzyk struck out Mathieu Godin hit a triple. Don Gall then struck out. Mitch Nicholetts then was walked, putting runners on the corners. Murray Armstrong hit a single and the Eagles made two errors that allowed both Godin and Nicolettes to score. However, Earl Ivall was then struck out by Guy Arpin and Armstrong was stranded to leave RR up 2-0 after one.
But their lead was short-lived as Tom Armstrong and Brock Vandenbrand both hit singles. They were later brought in by Adrian Vandenbrand to tie the game 2-2.
In bottom of two the Royals tried to get things going but ended up with Kyle Godin being stranded.
In the top of the third, strong pitching by Murray Armstrong saw Ziggy Seguin get stranded on first.
In the bottom of the inning Don Gall put the Royals ahead with a solo homer, 3-2.
But the Eagles soared again in the fourth with Brock Vandenbrand reaching and eventually being brought in by a single from Ted Heyens to tie the game 3-3.
Arpin stranded one but only faced four batters in the bottom of the inning.
In the top of the fifth Cody Heyens hit a single and then was clubbed in when Ziggy Seguin hit a home run to take the lead 5-3.
Again in the bottom of the inning the Eagles received the Royal treatment when Kam Kuzyk hit a single and was brought in by a triple from Mathieu Godin. Godin would score on a single from Don Gall who would then steal two bases. He would be brought in by a single by Jayden Gustafson. The inning ended with Royals up 7-5.
The seesaw battle continued in the top of the sixth when Jeff Kreger, Ted Heyens, Guy Arpin and Cody Heyens all hit back to back singles. They would all eventually score and put the Eagles on top 9-7.
In the bottom of the inning with two out, Mathieu Godin hit a single which was followed by a triple by Don Gall to score Godin. Nicholetts then hit a single to score Gall. The game after six was tied 9-9.
However, a determined Eagles team saw Luc Desserre reach third on an error to start things off. Jeff Kreger then followed up with a homer to score two more. Armstrong then struck out Ted Heyens, but then saw Arpin reach on an error. He would then come into score one more and put the final nail in the Royal’s coffin.
The Royals last bats started with Jayden Gustafson striking out then Kyle Godin hitting a double. Then Justin Wagner hit a line drive that caught Godin off the bag and the double play ended the game and the season for RR.
However, Stratton’s season continues. Last Thursday they beat Beefs Warriors 9-4 to earn a playoff game against Big Grassy tonight (Aug. 28). Since Big Grassy has not lost a game all playoffs and Stratton has, Stratton will have to beat them Tuesday and again next Thursday to win the championship. If Big Grassy wins tonight the season ends with the number one team in league play winning all the marbles.