Late Homer Steals the Game From the Riverhawks

2025-06-25

3-run home run in the 8th for Victoria ends Edmonton’s winning streak

By Cody F. Schmidt

While it was a slow start for the Edmonton Riverhawks, they gained momentum and a lead in the middle innings until a 3-run homer from the Victoria HarbourCats stole the game. This capped the Hawks’ winning streak at four games, matching their season high. Now at 12-8, the Hawks sit in third place in the WCL North Division.

Held hitless until the 5th, #38 David Krahn was the first Hawk in the H column in his second game with the team. Following behind with his first hit of the year was #37 Brock McMullen. Bringing home the first Hawks run of the game was #6 Robert Phelps, who drilled a hit deep enough in left to allow Krahn to score.

More action followed in the 6th, as #48 Max Stagg led off with a 8-pitch walk, then #25 Royce Hale reached on a fielder’s choice that the HarbourCats sat on without any outs. #13 Grant Yzermans would get the tying run across thanks to an RBI single he blazed past the Cats’ 3B at 98mph.

The hit parade continued into the 7th with Phelps hitting a single to right before getting advanced to second base from a balk. Stagg gave Edmonton the lead thanks to an RBI single, then hustled home on #35 Trent Lenihan’s RBI double two pitches later.

Making his fourth start of the season was #34 Jesse Kaphing. After going 4.0 innings with 2 earned runs against the Bells to receive a no decision on June 18, Kaphing came back with some zeal tonight. Despite a pair of hits, Jesse’s first two innings were fairly clean, including a great strikeout that completely froze the Cats’ right fielder Doyle. Victoria pushed a run home from a single thanks to a steal and a couple of groundouts in the 3rd. Kaphing returned for the 4th and despite a pair of quick outs, a pair of singles and and a pair of walks sent another runner home for Victoria. Tying his season high, Kaphing would pitch a full 4.0 innings with 5 hits, 3 walks, and 2 earned runs.

Turning to #15 Jack Becker in the 5th, the Cats knocked him for a first-pitch hit and a following walk, but thanks to #1 Shiryu Sato making a heads up double play, the runners didn’t dampen Becker’s first frame of work. Becker’s 6th was beautiful, striking out the side. Jack started by dotting the zone with a perfect strike to catch a Cat looking, then followed with a pair of swinging Ks, including a three-pitch-all-whiffs stunner to end the inning. Tossing 2.0 innings of relief, Becker only allowed a single hit and walk, while getting his three Ks in the 6th.

#40 Rece Allensworth took over for the 7th, and made quick work of the HarbourCats. Getting a fast strikeout and only allowing a two-out single. It was Allensworth’s second game in a row pitching, both games just tossing for a single inning. Following Allensworth was #33 George Naramore who got his first two outs within five pitches. Following a swinging strikeout the Cats hit singles back-to-back then brought in a pinch hitter who bombed a homer over the fence in left and stole the lead back from the Hawks. Due to an error on a wild pitch earlier, none of the runs would go against Naramore’s ERA. Unable to retire his next batter, who saw four straight balls come in, Naramore was replaced by #2 Austin Egan. Egan saw one more run come in, off an errored throw to third on a steal attempt, but a strikeout ended the inning.

The Riverhawks face their first loss of the year to the HarbourCats, but still have a chance to take the series tomorrow night. Game three starts at 7:35 MDT and will be the last time the Hawks and Cats see each other until the final series of the season. Friday night the Riverhawks scoot up the island to face the Nanaimo NightOwls in a weekend set before they return home for a Canada Day Spectacular presented by 880 Ched and Global Edmonton.

Head over to tickets.gohawks.ca to grab yourself a seat. Follow along with the game at @RiverhawksGames on X and keep up with everything happening with the Hawks on Instagram, Facebook, @EdmRiverhawks, and TikTok. See all the latest news at riverhawksbaseball.com.

Photo credit Justin P. Morash