Monarchs settle for second at Lethbridge tournament
The Medicine Hat Moose Monarchs came one run short of a championship at the Mary Oikawa Memorial baseball tournament on Sunday in Lethbridge.
After dropping their tournament opener to the host Lethbridge Elks on Friday, the Monarchs stormed back up the ladder with three straight wins, including an 18-8 blowout over the Calgary Redbirds.
But the Redbirds got their revenge in a 3-2 final.
The rematch essentially served as the second half of a doubleheader, as both squads closed out their round robin schedule before both advancing to the championship game with 3-1 records.
While Medicine Hat made quick work of Calgary in a fiveinning win to earn their place in the final, the Redbirds managed to gain some momentum with a six-run fifth and carried that into the championship.
Kade Krauss drove in Medicine Hat’s lone RBI and Jack Suhai scored on an error to erase a two-run deficit in the seventh inning. But the Redbirds managed to regain the upper hand with Krauss on the mound in extras and the Monarchs were unable to recover.
The Monarchs return to action in the American Legion Baseball AA season on Thursday with a doubleheader against the Kalispell Lakers at Athletic Park.
Knights drop doubleheader in Vauxhall
The Medicine Hat K of C Knights fell to 7-5 on the American Legion Baseball A season with a pair of losses to the Spurs on Saturday in Vauxhall, 7-5 and 15-6.
Knights starting arm Dylan Koenig managed to hold the Spurs to six runs — four earned — on nine hits through five innings of work, but ultimately settled for a loss to open the doubleheader.
Wyatt Bergen looked to give his team a boost in the second matchup, kicking off the outing with a two-run shot over the outfield fence, but the early lead wouldn’t hold up.
Bergen went on to add another RBI in a fielder’s choice in the sixth, but it only put a dent in the margin.
Ethan Loran went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the second game, while Ethan went 3for-6 across both games and Ethan Bartram cashed 2 RBI through a 2-for-4 effort in their opening loss.
Travis Small took the loss in the second game after allowing 11 runs — 10 earned — on 11 hits through 2 and 1/3 innings.
The Knights return to action Tuesday at Athletic Park with a doubleheader against the Lethbridge Miners.
Majestics take a pair
The Medicine Hat Saamis Rotary Majestics jumped to 11-3 in their American Legion Baseball B non-conference campaign Sunday in Lethbridge with a pair of decisive victories — 6-1 over the Cranbrook Bandits and 20-8 over the Lethbridge Lakers.
Seven of Medicine Hat’s starters finished their win over Lethbridge with multiple runs batted in. Reese Whelen led the pack with 3 RBI in a 2-for-4 performance for a total of 4 RBI on the day. Drew Niwa added 2 RBI in a 1-for-2 outing with three walks.
Kayden Berndt took the win over Cranbrook after holding the Bandits to one unearned run on one hit through six complete innings of work and Jayden Ball earned the victory over Lethbridge after two hitless innings with one walk to start the game.
The Majestics are back in action Tuesday with a doubleheader against Havre at Jeffries Field.