Monarchs bounce back for walk-off win on seniors’ day

By Ryan McCracken on July 16, 2018.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com @MHNMcCracken

The Medicine Hat Moose Monarchs shook off a pair of losses and battled back for a 14-4 walk-off victory over the Missoula Mavericks to avoid a series sweep on Sunday at Jeffries Field.

Hat outfielder Cavan Kolody — one of eight graduating Monarchs playing in their final home game of the AA American Legion Baseball season — cleared the benches with an RBI single in the sixth to celebrate the team’s senior recognition day in style after Ethan Boutkan held the Mavericks to four runs on six hits and two talks with three strikeouts.

“It feels good. It’s a big win for the team, it gets us that much closer to being able to make the state tournament,” said Kolody. “You need a win, everybody comes out and you get the win — it’s good.”

Monarchs head coach Skyler Stromsmoe added it was nice to see his team come through on such an important day for the organization.

“Hopefully it puts us in good shape for this next weekend to get into the state tournament,” Stromsmoe said. “I think everybody rallied together there.You always want to win your last home game and I think for a lot of these guys that was very important.”

The win follows up 14-5 and 9-1 losses Saturday, but outfielder JackSuhai — who went 3-for-4 with 4 RBI in Sunday’s win —says Sunday’s bounce-back will leave them with plenty of confidence heading into their final four games of the regular season.

“We could have easily come out and rolled over and died again today, let them walk all over us. But we came out and played great baseball,”said Suhai. “It’s a great time to start winning and get hot.”

The Monarchs (13-20-1) will close out the regular season with road doubleheaders against the Butte Miners Friday and the Billings Scarlets Saturday.

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