BRANDON, Manitoba - On their first trip to Canada to meet the Wheat City Whiskey Jacks, the Badlands Big Sticks dominated.
In game one, the Big Sticks defeated the Whiskey Jacks 13-5 on Monday, June 3. The second meeting was far more competitive, as the Big Sticks picked up a 10-inning 8-6 victory on Tuesday, June 4, at Andrews Field.
Badlands (7-3) used 19 hits in the effort, led by first baseman Conner VanCleave and second baseman Mason Schwellenbach, who had a double and a triple. They both had four hits over six at-bats. Third baseman Garrett Dupuis contributed three hits, while left fielder Kaimana Souza Paaluhi, shortstop Bryson Ford and center fielder Nathan Sanders each had two hits. Dupuis and Ford picked up a double each, while Sanders hit a solo home run to start the eighth.
On the mound for the Big Sticks, Gabe Lizarraga lasted six innings, fanning three batters while giving up five runs on nine hits. In relief, Joe Harris threw three innings, giving up one hit while striking out five.
For the Whiskey Jacks (3-4), Christopher Bennefield got the start, throwing 5 ⅔ innings. He gave up 10 runs, but still struck out six.
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Wheat City was led by Jayce Bailey and Cody Kehl, with each earning a triple and Bailey coming away with a double as well.
The next day, the Whiskey Jacks jumped out to a 3-1 lead, but doubles from Ford and VanCleave tied the game at three in the third. From there, the teams exchanged a run per inning until the contest sat tied at six in the top of the sixth. The Big Sticks broke cadence by blanking the home team in the bottom of the inning.
Relief pitcher Joe Smith struck out two of the four batters he saw in the bottom of the sixth. That commenced three and a half scoreless innings, forcing extra innings as the teams were still notched at six runs a piece after nine.
Catcher Ben Thoma led off the 10th by getting hit by a pitch. He scored on a double from Souza Paaluhi.
Going into the bottom of the inning, Wheat City was down 8-6. Michael Reddick quickly struck out the first two batters, but walked Cody Kehl and Myles Harris. Thomas Alexander was under pressure to do something big. He swung at a 3-2 pitch, popping out to second to end the game.
Results Monday
Badlands Big Sticks 13, Wheat City Whiskey Jacks 5
BBS 300 520 210 - 13 18 0
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WCW 002 030 000 - 5 10 1
BBS, Gabe Lizarraga (6), Joseph Harris (3) and BenThoma. WCW, Christopher Bennefield (5.2), Kolin Marley (2), Tom Vullo (1) and Myles Harris.
W-Lizarraga. L-Bennefield. HR-Name.
Highlights: BBS, Mason Schwellenbach, 3B, 2B, 4-6, 2 R; Conner VanCleave 4-6, 2B, R, 4 RBI; Garrett Dupuis 3-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI; Bryson Ford 2-4, 2B, 4 R, RBI; Kaimana Souza Paaluhi 2-5, 3 R; Nathan Sanders 2-4, HR, R, RBI; Gabe Knowles 1-4; Ben Thoma 1-4, R; Lizarraga 6 IP, 9 H, 5 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 3 K; Harris 3 IP, 1 H, 5 K. WCW, Jayce Bailey 2-4, 2 R; Cody Kehl 2-4, R, RBI; Bennefield 5.2 IP, 15 H, 10 R (10 ER), 3 BB, 6 K.
Results Tuesday
Badlands Big Sticks 8, Wheat City Whiskey Jacks 6 (F/10)
BBS 102 111 000 2 - 8 15 4
WCW 301 110 000 0 - 6 10 1
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BBS, Joel Torres (5), Joe Smith (2.1), Michael Reddick (2.2) and Ben Thoma. WCW, Mitchell Trenka (2), C Arias (4.2), Mitch Lyall (3.1).
W-Torres. L-Lyall.
Highlights: BBS, Souza Paaluhi 3-6, 2 R, RBI; Knowles 3-6, R; Thoma 2-3, R; Brayden Olson 2-4, R; VanCleave 2-5, RBI; Schwellenbach 2-6, R; Torres 5 Ip, 10 H, 6 R (6 ER), 3 BB, 2 K; Smith 2.1 IP, 1 BB, 4 K; Reddick 2.2 IP, 2 BB, 4 K. WCW, Lucas Allen 3-5, R; Keegan Sueltz 1-5, R, 2 RBI; Lyall 3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K.
