Hat stars win their second straight at provincials
By Medicine Hat News on July 23, 2019.
After a pair of early setbacks, Medicine Hat’s team at the Alberta Little League major baseball championship has found its groove. At Calgary, the Hat all-stars beat South Chief 5-0 Monday to improve to 2-2 at the seven-team tournament with two more round-robin games to go. Merrick Kurpjuweit allowed two hits and no walks in five innings, striking out four. Matthew Getz worked a scoreless sixth for the save. Medicine Hat scored all its runs in the fourth inning, the last three on back-to-back errors. Ryler Straarup went 2-for-2 with a double to lead the offence; he’s had two hits in each of his team’s games this week so far. After a tough 13-12 loss to Calgary’s Bow Ridge to begin the tournament Saturday, they lost 6-3 to Lethbridge Sunday and were suddenly in danger; only the top four teams advance to Thursday’s semifinals. But a 9-6 win over host Rocky Mountain House later Sunday got them back on track. Dryden Pidlisny threw 4 1/3 innings of relief against Rocky Mountain House for the win, while Straarup, Cade Moch and Parker McLaughlin each had two-hit games. Up next is a game against Calgary Fish Creek today. 9-8
