Defending champs take stranglehold

Grouard 86’ers shortstop Huckle Giroux fields and tosses the baseball during the first game of their playoff series against the Peavine Boyz July 15.

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

The three-time defending High Prairie Men’s Fastball League champion Grouard 86’ers have served notice they are gunning for a fourth straight title. The 86’ers swept games against the Peavine Boyz last week to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five semi-final. The 86’ers brought out the heavy bats by winning the opener 17-11 in High Prairie July 15 and 11-5 in Peavine July 17. The 86’ers scored early and often in the 17-11 opener at Jaycee Park. After giving up two runs in the first inning, they scored once in the first, five times in the second and seven times in the third. The Boyz scored first when Lindsay Laderoute’s RBI triple scored Chris Noskey Sr., who singled to lead off the game. Laderoute scored on cleanup hitter Stewart Cunningham’s RBI groundout. On the play, however, Cunningham twisted a knee and was out of the game. The 86’ers responded quickly in their half of the first. Ralphie Courtoreille’s sacrifice fly scored Randy Courtoreille, who was hit by a pitch to start the inning. He advanced to second on an error and third on a walk. The 86’ers took the lead for good in the second inning. Brydon Giroux provided the spark with a home run to lead off. Ian Giroux reached on a fielder’s choice, Randy Courtoreille walked and Peter Keay singled to load the bases. Bruce Cunningham then blasted a grand slam home run and the 86’ers never looked back. The third inning proved to be ever worse for the Boyz. Ian Giroux’s RBI single started the rally. Bruce Cunningham later singled in two more runs just before Ralphie Courtoreille’s RBI single. Huckle Giroux put the icing on the cake with a three-run blast to deep left field to end the rally. The 86’ers added three runs in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Bruce Cunningham, giving him seven RBS for the game. Ralphie Courtoreille followed with an RBI double giving him three RBIs. A final run in the sixth was scored on an error as Peter Keay raced home. The Boyz did get their share of runs in the game. Lawrence Anderson had a sacrifice fly and Edward Collins homered in the third. Lindsey Cunningham showed the frustrations of a poor pitching performance by hitting a home run in the fourth inning. The four-run fifth inning rally was highlighted by Derrick Shaw’s single which scored two runs, and RBI singles from Lindsey Cunningham and Cody Noskey. Chris Noskey’s RBI seventh inning single concluded the scoring. Ralphie Courtoreille was the winning pitcher lasting until one out in the fifth. Huckle Giroux finished and recorded the save. Lindsey Cunningham suffered the loss going just 2 2/3 innings before Mitchell Cunningham mopped up. Although the score was 17-11, hits were even at 13. The Boyz committed three errors to the 86’ers two and left six men on base compared to Grouard’s eight. The third game goes at 7:30 p.m. July 22 at Jaycee Park. The fourth game, if necessary, is scheduled for July 24 at Peavine. The fifth and deciding game, if necessary, is scheduled for the first day of the High Prairie Elks Pro Rodeo July 29 and subject to change. The 86’ers received a bye in the quarter-finals while the Boyz defeated Driftpile 2-1.

Copyright © 1999-2005 South Peace News. All Rights Reserved.
No part may be reproduced without written permission.

View our Privacy Statement.
Send website suggestions to the Webmaster