The Brooks Bombers traveled to Edmonton for a two game mini series against the Prospects. Brooks would come away with the sweep winning both games 7-3 and 17-9.
In game one Brock Lenhardt got the call for the Bombers. Brooks started quickly out of the gate on a scorching hot day in northern Alberta. Payton Matthews lead off getting on base and stealing Second. D’Andre Gaines drove him in with a tripple in the gap that got the Bombers on the board.
Lenhardt would strand one Propect on base in the bottom half setting up the Bombers in the bottom half. Dylan Bordayo singled and Brendan Clelland advanced to thrid as the order turned over for Matthews who unfourtunatly grounded out to end the inning. Edmonton would get on the board with a Ryan Kucy solo homerun but after that Lenhardt would settle in. He would only give up one more hit the rest of his outing while stranding five baserunners.
Lenhardt ended up going six strong innings giving up one earned and two hits while striking out four. The Bomber bats would pick up thier starter, D’Andre Gaines fresh off his RBI tripple hit a solo homerun to lead off the third inning regaining the lead for Brooks. Nate King would score another run for the Bombers in the fourth after he singled, stole Second and advanced to third off a wild pitch. He would score the inshurance run via (you guessed it) a past ball.
Gaines would lead off the fifth with a walk to continue his excellent day at the plate. Jacob Gillis would then hit the second homerun of the evening for the Bombers this time a two run shot to put Brooks in front 5-1. No runs were scored until the top of the Eighth when Dylan Bordayo singled and due to some difficulties in the field both Evan Leibl and Maddox Shaver scored.
Edmonton would score a pair of their own in the bottom half but it was too little too late as Brooks closed it out to take game one.
In Game two Leeroy Tavarez got the start as the Bombers were gunning for the start. The Bombers got off to a slow but efficiant start. After a pair of strikeouts Jacob Gillis and Zander Bretza both singled. Evan Leibl would get hit by a pitch to load the bases. Nate King, Maddox Shaver and Dylan Bordayo all walked as the Bombers were awarded a 3-0 lead.
Edmonton would answer in the bottom half starting with Zach Barnao who hit an RBI single to get the prospects on the board. Timo Aracena scored off a wild pitch and then Barnao tied the game off a Ryan Kucy single. The Prospects added another run in the bottom of the second to grab their first lead of the series.
The Bombers would tie the game in the top of the sixth, Antony Gilbert had the bases loaded and hit one hard through the left side for an RBI single. Unfortunately thats all they would get as the Bombers would leave the bases loaded. In the top of the seventh Zander Bretza would lead off with a solo homerun. Evan Leibl would also score after walking and capatilizing off a wild pitch.
The Prospects would tie the game at 6-6 curtosey of a Timo Aracena two run shot. In the top of the Eighth the Bombers would continue the rally with two more to go ahead 8-6. In the bottom of the ninth the Prospects needed a pair of runs to keep the game alive. Brady Kreutzer lead off with a solo homrun to put the preassure on. Two batters later Time Aracena was at it again this time tying it with a double. Zach Barnao was intentionally walked to load the bases in a tied game with non out. The next three batters couldnt come through as some how some way the game was headded for extra innings.
In Extras Zander Bretza was great on the mound surrendering just one run in the three extra frames. The lone prospect run came in the bottom of the tenth off an error. In the top of the tenth Payton Matthews pinch ran for Antony Gilbert and ended up doing the unthinkable and stealing home. The Bombers would eventually rally after a scoreless 11th inning and score eight runs in the top of the twelth. Jacob Gillis hit a massive double that scored a pair and Payton Matthews also cleared the bases with a double.
The Bomberes came away with the victory on friday night and secured the sweep over the prospects, although it was uncertain at time the coahcing staff was pleased with the teams fight. It certainly helps them in the playoff race as they are tied with Fort McMurray for the fourth and final West Division Playoff spot.