Riverhawks Make The Late Comeback To Win In Extras

2024-06-20

A last minute tie brings a 10th inning run to avoid the sweep

By Cody F. Schmidt

Just when it seemed like the Edmonton Riverhawks were about to be swept by the Kelowna Falcons, their bats turned the game around to push the game into extras. 10th inning heroics mean the Hawks even the season series with Kelowna 3-3, and claim a 11-7 record.

Thanks to a Falcons error in the 10th inning, pinch hitter #7 Tommy Takayoshi was able to safely make it to first base. Immediately coming in as a pinch runner, #1 Kaden Zarowny took off, going first to third on a #26 Russell Young ground out. #3 Michael Soper earned the go-ahead RBI thanks to a first-pitch single that sent Zarowny dashing home. #13 Kai Fyke took the mound to secure the Riverhawks win by striking out a pair and earning the save. The game’s win went to #16 Tylor Jans who pitched a perfect 9th inning including a strikeout.

Keeping it exciting in the 9th to stay in the game, #26 Russell Young and #6 Taichi Nakao were both walked before Soper cracked a double that brought Young home. A groundout by #15 Jonny McGill was enough action to plate Nakao, then a wild pitch tied the game as Soper dashed home.

The Riverhawks got on the board in the 6th, as #36 Jakob Poturnak and McGill went back-to-back with singles. A #35 Trent Lenihan fielder’s choice would send Poturnak to third, then #5 Bryce McFeely cracked a double that rolled all the way to the left field warning track and brought home Poturnak and Lenihan. Adding on in the 8th, McFeely earned a two-out walk, then a stand-up double by #12 Rex Watson sent Bryce all the way home for the Hawks’ third run.

It was the first start of the year for #38 David Stuart, who prior to the game had 3.2 innings of scoreless relief pitching for the Hawks. While he had a 1-2-3 1st, Stuart hit trouble in the 2nd as he walked his first three batters, then a double to the gap and a sac fly brought them all home. Trouble followed in the 3rd as a similar result followed due to a single and back-to-back walks. Stuart was relieved after his fifth base on balls was issued, ending up with a 2.0+IP line that included 6 earned runs, a pair of hits and a single strikeout looking.

Taking over, #21 Myles Chamberlain was able to retire the side, though three of Stuart’s runners scored on a double and a sac fly. Myles continued to shut down the Falcons, working through the 5th without allowing any more base runners. Finishing with a strikeout, Chamberlain worked a quick 3.0IP. After Myles came #43 Rory Lampe, and he continued Chamberlain’s control of the Falcons with a three-up-three-down 6th. After the stretch, #50 Brandon Brunette had a five pitch inning, assisted by an eager Falcons runner trying for second base on their first hit in four frames but getting tagged out easily. Brunette finished his appearance with an 8th inning, only allowing a single walk across the two frames of work.

Now that they’ve avoided the sweep, the Hawks move on to see the Kamloops NorthPaws for a weekend series. Returning home to RE/MAX Field on Tuesday June 25, the Hawks kick off another 9 game home stand, including a huge Canada Day celebration followed by a three day break. Come down to the park and have a party during the game and after it! Find your seat in the stands at gohawks.ca/tickets.