Rainy River advances to next round of fastball playoffs

By Ken Johnston
Editor

It is crunch time for the teams of the Rainy River District Fastball League.
Playoffs are in full swing with round two taking place last Thursday.
Rainy River was upset in the first round by last place Sabaskong and was sent to the bottom of the playoff bracket. They faced Big Grassy on Thursday in Rainy River and nearly saw their season end when they narrowly won 5-4.
In the first inning it looked like Rainy River was going to walk all over Big Grassy. RR hurler Murray Armstrong faced only three batters, striking out two of them. Then in bottom of the first Wes Blight started a rally for Rainy with a triple. Murray Armstrong then hit a single to score Blight. Rick Tymkin followed Armstrong’s example with a single. Marty Armstrong and Earl Ivall then reached the bases. When it was all over RR was up 3-0 with Tymkin scoring the third run.
In the second Armstrong struck out two again but Big Grassy’s Glen Archie and Brian Hook threatened reaching first and second.
Bottom of two Big Grassy’s pitcher Jeff Morrison made quick work of RR striking out three of four batters.
However, in the third Nathan Jack put Big Grassy on the score board with an opening homerun. Bob Copenace and Tom Jack then flew out and it looked like RR’s lead was safe. But then Bill Copenace hit a single and was brought in by a homerun by Jeff Morrison. The inning ended tied 3-3.
Both teams were three up three down in the fourth.
Murray Armstrong then struck out three more batters in the fifth. In the bottom of the inning a single by Murray Armstrong was batted in by Earl Ivall for his second RBI of the game. RR was now up 4-3.
In the sixth Glen Archie hit a triple and was brought in by a sacrifice fly from Brian Hook. It was tied 4-4 at the middle of six.
In the bottom of the inning Jim Chorney hit a single and then with some good base running stole second. He would eventually score as Blight and Murray Armstrong both reached. But the lead would be held to 5-4.
In the seventh Big Grassy could not get anything going with Armstrong striking out all three batters he faced earning RR the win.
In other games it was Barwick defeating Sight and Sound 3-0 and Stratton over Sabaskong 13-4.
Rainy River now faces Sight and Sound in Fort Frances tonight and Barwick hosts Stratton.