The Brooks Bombers fell 12-11 at Elks field Wednesday night against the Okotoks Dawgs. Jack Leary would make his second start of the season while Oktoks would send William Fife to the mound for the first time this season.
Leary started off strong retiring the Dawgs in order setting up a four run bottom of the first. Kelton Phillips and Payton Matthews would be on base before Phillips was caught trying to swipe second base while Matthews scored the first run of the game. Jacob Gillis would send a solo shot to deep center, then Antony Gilbert would get hit by a pitch setting up Brithday Boy Zander Bretza who hit a two run homerun.
It wasnt all smooth sailing for Leary in the second as Lou Anderson would hit a two run homerun and the defense would make some uncharaistic errors as Ricardo Sanchez and Kadyn Williams would help drive in three runs to make it a 5-4 game.
In the Bottom of the second the Bomber hitters would take their bases and eventually force Fife to walk in a run before Brady Forno would enter in releif. After a wild pitch that scored Joseph Gelpi Jacob Gillis would single to score two more making it 8-5 for Brooks.
The Dawgs would continue to be pesky and score three in the top of the third to tie the game at eight. The were very selective with Jack Leary and got timly walks and hits in the process.
“Although he didnt have his best stuff tonight he still went out there and battled and got some key outs for us limiting the damage”, said Pitching coach Jake Zettel.
Brady Forno however, found his grouve silencing the Bomber bats chucking up three straight zeros. The Dawgs would continue to build on their lead with more pesky plays against the Brooks bullpen. Although Grant Harvill stuck out three hitters in an inning and a third his walks are what lead him to surrendering two earned runs.
Theo Giedd would come in and shut the door going three and a third giving up two hits and striking out four. Giedd did give up a run but it wasnt earned as he would allow the Bombers an opertunity to get the lead back.
“I had a gut feeling about throwing him in tonight, he dominated tonight and got some really key outs”, said Zettel.
Cash Benavidez would drive home Jacob Gillis in the bottom of the sixth and then in the bottom of the ninth the Bombers needed three tot tie. Joseph Gelpi would get on base and be driven home by Payton Matthews who eventually got tagged out at secound base for out number two. Kelton Phillips would doubble and score after Jacob Gillis got on first with an error in the field by Okotoks. Antony Gilbert would single and then both runners would advance with Zander Bretza at the plate. Down 0-2 he missed a breaking ball to end the game, the comeback fell short.
Jacob Gillis would continue to swing a hot bat recording four hits and a team high three RBI’s.
“I’m seeing it well up there and feeling confident right now”, said Gillis.
It’s easy to look at this result and hang your head as a fan and point to the teams record but internally there is a good feeling on the horizon.
“I told the guys after the game that not only are we expecting to win this season for the rest of the weel the expectation is to go 3-0”, said Morgan.
“The boys were fired up all night, the wins are coming we can feel it”, said Gillis.
The Bombers will visit Lehtbridge in what hopefully is not as high scoring as Tuesday night as its the WCBL game of the week at Spitz Stadium.