The Lacombe Pee Wee AA Dodgers faced their toughest competition of the season on the weekend in a four-game series against Division 1 opponents.
In the opening game on Saturday, the host Dodgers were defeated 15-12 by Red Deer 1. Trailing 12-11 going into the top of the seventh inning, Red Deer scored four runs and then held the Dodgers scoreless in the bottom of the inning to gain the victory.
The Dodgers hitting attack was led by Graylin Giesbrecht (two singles and a double); Jacob Jensen (triple); and Lewis Rice, Ashton Finkbeiner, Joe Partington, Kai Ryden and Carter Amdam with a double apiece.
In the second game, the Dodgers faced the Camrose 1 team with a 7-0 record in provincial tiering play. All of its previous wins were the result of the mercy rule being applied after five innings.
The Dodgers gave Camrose its most difficult game of the season, taking a 10-8 lead into the fifth inning.
Camrose scored six runs in the bottom of the inning and held on for a 15-12 win over the Dodgers. Myles Pallister and Rice each cracked a double while Finkbeiner, Ryden and Zoe Lorenz-Boser each chipped in with a single.
In Sunday action in Innisfail, the Dodgers downed the Calgary Redbirds 14-11.
At the plate, the Dodgers were led by Lorenz-Boser (two triples and a double), Rice (triple and a single), Pallister (double and a single), Partington (triple and a single), Zach Scholing (two singles), Amdam (two singles), Finkbeiner (triple and a single), and Carter Chatwood (double).
In a later evening game in Lacombe, the Dodgers came from behind to defeat Springbank 22-18.
The Dodgers trailed 18-9 late in the game, but put together back-to-back innings of seven and six runs to emerge with the victory and even its weekend record at a respectable two wins and two losses. Highlighting the Dodger's offense were Lorenz-Boser (two triples and a double), Pallister (two doubles and a single), Ryden (triple and a single), Rice and Partington with two singles each, and Scholing with a double.
Over the weekend, Tennyson Blackmore of the Dodgers acquired six walks and made an outstanding running catch in the outfield.
Next provincial tiering action will be in Strathmore on June 27th-28th with games against Strathmore, Okotoks and Innisfail.
- submitted by Lyle Lorenz - Pee Wee AA Dodgers head coach.