In聽 baseball the difference in a doubleheader can be significant as the Parkland U15 Expos learned Saturday.
The Expos hosted their namesake rivals the Regina Expos and in game one rolled to a 15-5 victory via the mercy rule after five innings.
鈥淭he turning point was the third inning,鈥� said coach Larry Kitchen.
Parker Lowenburg battled at the plate and finally stroked a single to right field scoring one. The single allowed Bryker Smith to come the plate and he stroked a three-run homer to help power the offence.
Lowenburg was also the starting pitcher. He went four innings, before handing the ball over to Rylan Pihach in the fifth.
Game two saw the local Expos run into a hot pitcher who kept the Parkland bats quiet as Regina won 6-0.
Colton Hubic started for the Parkland Expos going five innings, with Liam Baron pitching the sixth.
鈥淚n the game all the runs were earned,鈥� noted Kitchen, adding that is actually a positive as the Parkland team did not commit an error. 鈥淲e鈥檙e playing good fundamental baseball.鈥�
The split leaves the Parkland squad with a 10-8 record and needing a bit of help from the Regina Pacers to finish second in the league and to then host a playoff game Thursday.
Kitchen explains the Regina Expos are facing the Pacers for two games, and if they win both, get second.
鈥淚f they split we get second,鈥� he said.
