The Brooks Bombers started off last weekend at home against the Edmonton Prospects after a pair of mid week off days following a huge victory over the Okotoks Dawgs. Jack Leary woulf get the start friday night and was excellent once again going seven complete innings giving up no earned runs and only five hits.
Leary would later announce his commitment to California State University Bakersfield at the Division one level after finnishing up his career at Whitworth University. Leary came to Brooks looking to Finnish up his baseball career and potentially look into coaching but after some dominant starts he has now reached his goal and will play division one baseball next year.
Back to the game, the Bomber bats gave Leary plenty to work with. After the Prospects left the bases loaded in the top of the first the offense went to work. Jacob Gillis singled to score Jouesph Gelpi, two batters later Zander Bretza brought Antony Gilbert home off a fielders choice. With a pair of runners on and two out Evan Leibl sent one to the opposite field that cleared the wall for a three run homerun to make it a 5-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second Jacob Gillis would stay hot this time sending a two run homerun over the wall to extend the lead. D’Andre Gaines would then single and steal second before Zander Bretza would knock him home with an RBI single. Jouseph Gelpi would join the homerun party in the bottom of the third with a two run shot of his own to make it a 10-0 ballgame.
The Prospects would get three runs of their own but the damage was done. Leeroy Tavarez would finnish the game on the mound and help the team cruise to a huge victory. Tickets were also half priced on friday and it got a rather large crowd including a huge $2,000 plus 50/50 draw that went unclaimed and rolled into sunday afternoon.
On Saturday the Bombers paid a visit to Seaman stadium once again. A number of Bombers fans packed a shuttle bus and made their way to support the squad in Okotoks, it was also teddy bear toss night. In the fifth inning the bears came raining down in support of local childrens hospitals.
On the mound it would be a duel between Tyson Kilbreath and Greg Ross for the Dawgs. Okotoks took the lead in the bottom of the second off the bat of Jason Ariola, Jarrett Burney found his way to third base from stealing second and past ball. Ariola sent a chopper to second base and Burney broke for home without a throw. The Dawgs contuniued to pose a threat but Kilbreath got Logan Grant to fly out to end the inning.
The Bombers would attempt to tie the game in the second and third but left a pair of runners on in both innings. The top of the fourth saw Brooks get the hit they needed. Zander Bretza hit a one out double that set up Evan Leibl two batters later with two outs. Leibl delivered with a clutch single that allowed Bretza to palte and tie the game.
The next two innings saw Okotoks leave a runner on base as Kilbreath continued to cruise. In the top of the sixth Chase Tucker took over for Ross. With one out Zandre Bretza would once again make his mark with a single. Cash Benavidez would reach base on an error but Bretza would keep running past second and somehow slide in safely to put runners on the corners for Evan Leibl. The left fielder would lay down a great bunt up the first base line hard enough that no throw home would be possible as the Bombers stunningly had the lead.
Kilbreath would keep going strong on the mound only giving up one hit in the following two inning where his night would end after going seven innings giving up one earned. Julian Pokorny would come out of the bullpen and struggle at the start but get a massive double play ball. Devin Jennings would replace Pokorny to face pinch hitter Connor Crowson who would fly out to center field to end the inning leaving a pair of Dawgs on base.
In the bottom of the ninth it was closing time and Zander Bretza was the man who was tasked with shutting down the Dawgs. Bretza would go virtually untouched as he struck out Aiden Rose and got Jason Ariola to fly out. Kadyn Williams was the last hope for Okotoks, Bretza would get him to swing at the final pitch of the ballgame and get a massive victory for the Bombers.
Afterwards there was alot of celebration with the traveling Brooks fans as this was potentially the biggest victory of the season.
Sunday afternoon the Dawgs would come back to Elks Field where the 50/50 pot started at just over $2,000. Unfortunately for the Bombers Okotoks put on an incredible hitting performance. Starting pitcher Keaton Matlick was solid on the mound but every Dawgs hitter was a tough out all afternoon as Matlick only lasted three innings.
After five innings the Dawgs had an 9-2 lead. Brooks wouldnt quit though as they rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. With a pair of runners on D’Andre Gaines would double to score Jacob Gillis. Zander Bretza would score off a Cash Benavidez sacrifice RBI to make it 9-4.
It was 10-4 Okotoks in the bottom of the ninth where Benavidez would score off an error. Later in the inning Jouseph Gelpi would drive in Evan Leibl but unfortunately thats all the Bombers could get. A massive bright side for Brooks was their defense. The teams has struggled at times but they had just played back to back clean games in the field.
Overall they took two of three from the Dawgs in the week and continue to make a push for the playoffs trailing the Fort McMurray Gaints for the fourth and final playoff spot in the stacked west division.