It has to be a good sign when your starting pitcher strikes out four batters in the first inning. The North Battleford Beavers' Aaron Huber did that Wednesday night against the St. Walburg Reds.
The St. Walburg leadoff batter, Brent Treflak, struck out, but reach base on a passed ball and eventually scored in the first inning. Huber settled in after that point, pitching eight innings and helping the Beavers to a 4-3 win.
On the offensive side for the Beavers, Kyle Gregoire moved from the ninth spot in the lineup to first after helping the Beavers beat Mervin last week. Gregoire was the one to start the offence and hours later the one to finish it.
Gregoire hit a leadoff single off St. Walburg's Darren Delainey, stole second base, advanced to third on a wild pitch and was plated by Jared Inkster on a sacrifice fly. Rory Gregoire doubled later in the first and was sent home after a Bryce Gatzke single and the Beavers led 2-1 after one inning.
Huber retired the bottom three hitters for the Reds in order in the second and Matt Benson scored Tyler Russell for the Beavers' third run. Scott Thompson replaced Darren Delainey on the mound and would pitch the remainder of the game for the Reds after the third North Battleford run was scored.
Trefink reached base on an error and stole two bases before Delainey scored him on a fielder's choice in the third inning.
The score remained 3-2 until the top of the sixth inning when a single scored Kristian Sawyshyn. A relay from right field was on the mark at home plate, but Sawyshyn knocked the ball out of Gatzke's glove as he touched home plate.
After another two innings of scoreless baseball, the Beavers looked for the win in an extra inning. Ryan Shepherd pinch hit and leadoff the eighth inning with a double down the first baseline. Later, Brad Eischen pinch hit and walked putting runners on first and second and one out. Kyle Gregoire deliver an RBI double to centre field for the walk-off win and improved the Beavers record to 2-3.
Kyle Gregoire had two hits, walked once, scored one run and had the winning RBI. Gatzke also had two hits on the night.
Huber earned his first win as a North Battleford Beaver after pitching eight innings, striking out 13, walking five, allowing four hits and one earned run.
Thompson and the Reds lost their fourth game this season by a single run as he was saddled with the loss after pitching six innings. Thompson struck out four, walked three, allowing four hits and one run. Thompson also had a double and two walks at the plate with an RBI, but the Reds reaming winless with an 0-7 record.
The Reds were scheduled to play Thursday against the Midwest Expos while the Beavers were at home against the Unity Midgets.
