Rainy pounds Pinewood 9-0

Ken Johnston

The crowd was reflective of how popular the rivalry has become between the Pinewood Bears and RR Legion fastball teams.
Both teams have players from Rainy River on them and have become staunch rivals in the past couple of years. The stands were full and many people were standing watching the game last Tuesday evening as RR played host.
RR pitcher Murray Armstrong struck out three and stranded one in the first inning. His teammates then worked Pinewood pitcher Clint Armstrong over with a double from Rick Tymkin and a single from Matt Ashworth to start things off. Then Clint retired two batters before Mitch Gouliquer hit a single to score Tymkin. Ashworth would later score to round out the inning with RR ahead 2-0.
Both pitchers were tough in the second. Murray retired three in a row as did Clint.
In the top of the third Murray struck out Chris Jodoin and Joel Ashworth but then allowed Scott Aikenhead to reach on a single and walked Clint Armstrong. However, he ended that threat when he struck out Kirk Wood.
Clint walked Matt Ashworth to start things off. Don Gall then hit a single to advance Ashworth to second. However, Ashworth was then caught trying to steal third. Jim Chorney was walked and Mitch Goliquer was then thrown out at first. With two out it looked like Clint and the Bears would hold off another RR scoring attack. Then Murray Armstrong hit a single that scored both Gall and Chorney. The inning ended when Murray was forced out at second. RR lead 4-0 after three.
Murray struck out three in a row in the fourth.
In the bottom of the inning both Matt Ashworth and Dan Usiski, Jr. scored widening RR’s lead to 6-0.
It was three in a row again for Murray in the top of the fifth.
Clint fired back again in the bottom with three in a row again.
Scott Aikenhead started things off in the top of the sixth with a single but then Murray struck out three in a row to strand Aikenhead.
Clint struggled in the bottom of the sixth walking five runners. Usiski, Matt Bartlett and Don Gall all scored to secure RR’s win 9-0.
Murray retired two of the Bears with strike outs and threw one runner out at second when he tried to steal to end the game.
Weather permitting RR hosts Stratton tonight at 7 p.m.