LHP Joe Sergent worked five innings allowing one run, while C Brent Cooper drove in a pair of runs to break a tie.

June 29, 2021

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Down 6-0 before they hit the bat rack, it seemed like the opening night of the 2021 season might an indicator of a long, long year for the Calgary Cardinals.

Aren Nelson threw the first pitch in Alberta roughly around 8:30 a.m. on June 13 at Glen Hansen Field. It did not go real well. Facing the Calgary Longhorns he allowed six unearned runs.

The Cardinals had their own six-run rally in the third to cut the Longhorns lead to 8-6. A three-run rally in the fifth provided the margin of victory in an 11-10 win as Cardinals scored an opening night win over the Longhorns in Wild Rose country in a match-up of the two longest-standing members of the league.

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First game in each province

PLAY BALL !: Coffin-continues to drive the Chevies in PEI

PLAY BALL II: Cloverdale opens BC, Coquitlam sweeps, Deagle goes deep

PLAY BALL III: New Brunswick underway _ Mudcats, Alpines, Cats, Cards win

PLAY BALL IV: Prairie Pirates had no Chantze against Price, Sask5 Giants

PLAY BALL V: 75th season kicks off at St. Pat’s Ball Park in St. John’s

PLAY BALL VI: Foothills off to fastest start in Alberta, Sergent gives orders

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Jeff Breen was 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs for the Cardinals, while David Kelly doubled to help their club rally from a 7-1 deficit.

Dawson Newman pitched 1 1/3 innings allowing a run and the Cards also sent a parade of pitchers to the mound in Dallas Forno (1 2/3 scoreless, and Peter Werth (two innings one run) with Tom Sidorkewicz gaining the win with a scoreless inning.

Kayde Kinaschuk had a 3-for-4 game for the Longhorns while Kellen Foreman had two singles and drove in a run.

Ted Eisthen started for the Longhorns giving up a run in 1 2/3 innings and was knocked from the game after being hit by a comebacker. Max Kathol pitched an inning allowing six runs -- five earned -- on four hits and three walks. Jamie Whitehead was tagged with the Longhorn loss as he pitched 3 1/3 inning giving up four runs -- three earned -- on five hits and a walk.

Never heard of the Foothills League? Ian Wilson of Alberta Dugout Stories breaks it down in Too Legit to Quit.

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Curtis Smith and Dirk Dembroski combined on a two-hitter to give the Calgary Wolfpack a 4-1 win against the Calgary Canadians.

Smith pitched four innings for the win striking out eight and then on came Dembroski who allowed both hits and struck out four.

Trent Lawson singled in a pair of Wolfpack runs, while Brandon Billesberger tripled and singled, as well Fraser Armstrong doubled.

Mike Ozga singled and knocked in the Canadians lone run, while Trevor Kuran had the other hit. Owen Steele pitched five innings and gave up four runs and was charged with the loss.

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The battery of lefty Joe Sergent pitched and catcher Brent Cooper gave the Calgary Diamondbacks a 5-2 win over the Calgary Dukes. Sergent, a former minor leaguer with the Florida Marlins, struck out 11 in five innings. Cooper delivered a two-run single to put the DBacks ahead to stay.

Aaron Dunsmore tripled and drove in a run for the winners, while Brendon Sutherland and Andrew Malone each singled in a run. Picking up Sergent, who allowed one run, was Thomas Gayef, who allowed a run in his two innings.

For the Dukes, Eric Buckley had a pair of hits and knocked in a run

David Hodge started and pitched two scoreless for the Dukes. Kenny Muise and Jimmy Powell also had scoreless outings, but Paul Davis was charged with the loss allowing a pair of runs in his two innings on one hit and two walks.

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We’re not sure if Jeff Derks put the bases into the ground, but he pretty much did everything else. Derks picked up the win for the Calgary White Sox in a 9-6 win against the Calgary Guns with three innings. He allowed three runs on five hits. At the plate he had two hits and knocked in three runs.

White Sox’s Tony Olson had a pair of hits, including a double, as did Dan Chappel. Cory Arnason and Taylor Kipnes pitched two innings each, with Arnason putting up two zeros, while Kipnes allowed a run. Five different Sox knocked in runs.

Scott Hoekstra went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Guns, while Luke Carmichael had a pair of hits and an RBI for the Guns. Nick Taylor took the loss pitching three innings and giving up eight runs on seven hits and five walks.

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Steven Latos and Matthew Dobberthien combined on a no-hitter as the Calgary Giants to a 13-2 win over the Calgary Twins. Latos worked four innings for the win and struck out four. Then, Dobberthien worked the final two innings.

Dayton Heino powered as he went 3-for-3, including a double, a home run and two RBIs. Jose Campo had two singles and drove in a run.

Aidan Orsted started for the Twins and took the loss allowing 10 runs on four hits and five walks.

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The Camrose Roadrunners started the 84th season of the Powerline League at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday June 13 at Harry Andreassen Field at Rudy Swanson Park in Camrose.

The Roadrunners edged the Tofield Braves 4-2. The Roadrunners in their black, purple and grey colors have been in the league for years (1972-1975, 1977-1991, 1997-2004, 2006-2009, 2011-present day). Manager Bret Keohane hopes Game 1 was the start to winning a PBL title like in 1974, 1975, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986 and 2007.

Managed by Dylan Berrecloth and Corey Epp, Tofield has been in the PBL since 2017 and is looking for its first championship.

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And on Monday June 14, the St. Albert Tigers beat the Edmonton Cubs 4-3 at John Fry Park. Making his Sunburst debut, Reece Devlin started for St. Albert as he worked three scoreless, allowing only one hit. Logan Blumhagen pitched four innings for the save, although he did allow a solo shot to Ryan Kosolofski.

Blumhagen gave up three earned runs on four hits, while whiffing four. Edmonton’s Jackson Wark, fanned six in strikeouts in three innings of relief.

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The same night the Red Deer Riggers won in extras with a 4-2 win against the Sherwood Park A’s at Centennial Park.

Red Deer’s Jason Louis had a 3-for-3 day and Mason Love-Hollman had two hits. Rees DeRuyter gained the win pitching the final four innings, giving up four, hits while striking out four.

Ashton Martin was 4-for-4 for Sherwood Park, finishing a homerun shy of the cycle and Kern Watts had two hits as well.