The Brooks Bombers were in Lethbridge Thursday night for the final time in the 2024 regular season. The Bulls were able to win in close fashion by a score of 6-5.
Leeroy Tavarez was the man the Bombers turned to on the mound and the Bulls countered with Drew Lenehan. The Bombers put the pressure on quickly with D’Andre Gaines leading off with a single followed two batters later with an Antony Gilbert walk. Unfortunately for Brooks they were unable to cash in. Tavarez wouldn’t struggle out of the gate as he got to work quickly with a 1-2-3 inning.
In the Second both Maddox Shaver and Jack Walters got hit by pitches. With two outs the order turned back over for D’Andre Gaines. He made no mistake on a fastball and hammered it to the opposite field for a three run homerun. Tavarez would have a similar 1-2-3 inning as the Bombers carried a 3-0 lead into the third.
The Bulls would answer back in the bottom of the third. Cardel Dick hit a one out double to the gap in left center setting up Josh Kabayama who similar to Gaines went backside for a two run homerun to cut the deficit.
In the bottom of the fifth Lethbridge would once again rally. Tyler Monroe would walk with one out then Scott Hansen sent a crafty bunt that advanced Monroe. Zander Bretza ended up making a great play to get Hansen out at first. Jack Kalisky then doubled and drove in Monroe to tie the game. Carlin Dick took ball four from Tavarez and Kalisky broke for third putting runners on the corners with two outs. Dick then broke for second, as he did that Kalisky ran home and scored the goahead run. Dick was caught in a run down but caught the Bombers sleeping on some heads up baserunning.
That would be it for Leeroy Tavarez as he went five innings giving up four earned on six hits while striking out six as well. Lethbridge would also make a change on the mound as George Naramore would be first out to start the sixth. With one out Evan Leibl caught a barrel and hit a solo homrun to deep center tying the game. Jack Walters followed him up with an oppisite field double. A past Ball advanced walters to thrid and with Payton Matthews capitalizing on an error Walters scored the go ahead run.
Devin Jennings was first out for Brooks and had a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth but ran into trouble in the seventh. Jennings walked back to back hitters but was able to settle in and get a ground out and a strikeout. With two outs and runners at second and third Jack Kalisky continued his great season against Brooks with an RBI single that scored both runners regaining the lead for Lethbridge.
The Bombers werent able to do anything from there in the eighth as they were retired in order. In the Bottom half Julian Pokorny took over and was once again dailed in striking out a pair of Bulls in a 1-2-3 inning. Unfortunately for Brooks Kalisky was on to close and was virtually untouched as he struck out the side to end the ball game.
With the Fort McMurray Giants losing to Okotoks as well the Bombers remain a game up for the last playoff spot in the West. Next up for the Bombers will be fan appreciation night at Elks field on Friday night as they host the Okotoks Dawgs.