Showing well at home

By Sean Rooney on July 8, 2017.

srooney@medicinehatnews.com @MHNRooney

It’s hard to say just how good the Saamis Rotary Majestics baseball team is this year, given that they play an entirely exhibition schedule and don’t have a defining championship to play for.

But an 18-5 record, including Friday night’s 13-3 home tournament win over the Cranbrook Bandits, suggests they’re more than holding their own against whoever’s come to play.

“It’s been good, we’ve been very consistent,” said coach Nolan Rattai in front of the home team’s dugout at Jeffries Field. “I’m happy with our results.”

The mercy rule finish through five innings was triggered when Adam Klick walked, advanced to third on a bounding Tanner Angstadt single through the left side, then took home on a passed ball.

It would’ve been over even earlier but for two seeing-eye singles and a double that could’ve been caught in the top of the inning. That spelled the end of starter Kaitlyn Ross’ night, but the 16-year-old otherwise had her way with Bandits batters.

“It was hot out, I was struggling to hit the strike zone there a little bit but I thought my team was there for me when I needed it,” said Ross, who struck out six, walked five and let up six hits in four innings pitched.

Angstadt came in to close out the fifth, and also went 3-for-3 with 2 RBI. Leadoff man Dylan Fauth also drove home two runs on a bases-loaded single in the fourth and was 2-for-4.

“We stayed focused, ended up coming through with a win,” said the centre-fielder.

Braiden Koran went 2-for-3 with two runs for Cranbrook. Both teams have two games Saturday in the eight-team event, then teams from each pool will cross over for playoffs Sunday.

With only three home games prior to Friday —the Majestics play most of their games in Calgary against Babe Ruth league teams —the home tourney might just be the highlight of the summer for the players. Ross can’t stick around due to a commitment with a senior women’s team she also plays on but everyone seems excited for the chance at a few home crowds and, hopefully, a spot in Sunday’s (12:15 p.m.) final.

“Some home fans watching us play so it makes us work harder I guess, stay focused more,” said Fauth.

Medicine Hat plays Edmonton Confed at 12:15 p.m., then Macklin at 5:45 p.m. Saturday. both games are at Jeffries Field.

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