Thunder roars at Leibel Field
A strong first-half performance powered the Regina Thunder to a 29-21 PFC victory over the Winnipeg Rifles on Saturday at Leibel Field.
Regina led 25-7 after two quarters en route to improving its recordto1-1.
Brock Sich threw and ran for a touchdown for Regina, which got a 13-carry, 110-yard performance by Brayden Long.
Sich completed 14 of 28 passes for 241 yards, including a touchdown toss to Lee Brown, and did not throw an interception.
Brown (five catches for 54 yards) and Isaac Foord (three for 108) were the Thunder’s leading receivers. Foord had a two-point convert.
Regina’s other touchdown came on a one-yard run by Dani Boudnikov.
Finn Marcotte-cribb led the Thunder’s defence with two interceptions, which he returned for 61 yards.
Eric Maximuik had two field goals, two converts and a single for Regina.
Winnipeg scored its second and third touchdowns in the final two minutes of the game.
The Thunder is to return to action Sunday against the host Edmonton Huskies.
The Bulyea Rustlers and Alpha Construction Hawks are to meet in the Western Cycle Rambler Park Fastball League’s Division 1 final.
In best-of-three semifinal sweeps, Bulyea eliminated the Standing Buffalo Dakotas and the Hawks defeated the Moose Jaw Canadians.
Series-clinching games were played Thursday, when Bulyea won 8-1 and the Hawks prevailed 3-2.
Colin Mcleod was the winning pitcher for Bulyea, with relief help from Greg Hill (who struck out six in three innings).
The Hawks got the win from Les George, who struck out 12 in seven innings. Moose Jaw’s Dean Holoien also pitched a completegame gem, striking out 16. Ron Cote homered for the Hawks.
On Friday, Best Buds defeated the Little Black Bear Blues 11-1 in the third and deciding game of a best-of-three Division 2 semifinal.
Winning pitcher Tony Cappo homered for Best Buds, as did Ron Peigan, Jonah Agecoutay and Shayse Cappo.
Also on Friday, the Earl Grey Rockets defeated the Rampage 5-2 to even a Division 2 semifinal at 1-1.
Evan Mohr homered for Earl Grey in support of winning pitcher Justin Sievert. The Regina Rogues defeated the Campion Grads 94-24 in a Regina Rugby Union senior men’s 15s quarter-final Saturday. In senior women’s 15s action, the Regina Condors defeated the Saskatoon Wild Oats 42-22 and the Regina Rage downed the Saskatoon Kirin 85-5.