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Sports: Bench Warmers shock Canadian Boyz
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Peavine Bench Warmers’ shortstop Bruce Cunningham decides to take the force play at second base for an out during their game against the Peavine Canadian Boyz July 24 in Peavine. Ready to accept the throw, although not necessary, was second baseman Lorne L’Hirondelle.
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Lindsey Cunningham was the winning pitcher in the third and deciding game of the series.
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Chris Clegg
for South Peace News
Bruce Cunningham’s RBI single with two out in the bottom of the seventh inning gave the Peavine Bench Warmers an electrifying 4-3 come-from-behind win and the series against the Peavine Canadian Boyz July 24 in Peavine.
Al Cloutier, who sat on the bench the entire game, batted for pitcher Lindsey Cunningham to lead off the seventh inning under the re-entry rule. He singled and advanced to second on a pass ball. Nathan Gladue flew out to short right field setting up Bruce Cunningham’s heroics. His hard grounder through the right side of the infield gave the fielder no chance to throw out Cloutier at home.
The ecstatic Bench Warmers now play the High Prairie 86’ers in the High Prairie Men’s Fastball League semi-final.
The game was as exciting as it gets, with pitchers Lindsay Cunningham and Don Cunningham spinning magic until the fourth inning. Travis Chalifoux walked with one out for the Boyz and advanced to third on Archie Collins single. The Boyz then executed a perfect double steal with Collins stopping between first and second base to draw the throw. Chalifoux raced home and the Boyz lead 1-0.
The Boyz extended their lead to 3-0 in the fifth inning. Designated hitter Peter Chalifoux singled and went to second base on a wild pitch. He scored to make it 2-0 on Dwayne Chalifoux’s RBI single. Dwayne Chalifoux raced around to score when the centre fielder let the ball bounce past him and it was 3-0.
However, the Bench Warmers did not roll over. Lorne L’Hirondelle doubled to start the bottom of the fifth. He immediately scored on Lance Gauchier’s RBI double. Lindsey Cunningham then singled putting runners at first and third.
Strangely, the Bench Warmers tried a double steal with none and Gauchier was gunned down at home – a cardinal sin in fastball with none out. Nathan Gladue popped out to short but Bruce Cunningham bailed out his teammates when he singled in Lindsey Cunningham to make it 3-2.
The sixth inning featured the rekindling of a historic moment in baseball. T.J. Cunningham announced to the press he was going to hit a home run. He stepped up to the plate and fulfilled his prophecy by clubbing the ball far over the left-centre fence and the game was tied 3-3. He did everything but point to the exact spot like Babe Ruth did in the 1932 World Series.
Lindsey Cunningham pitched a perfect seventh inning by striking out Peter Chalifoux, Gerry Prince and Dwayne Chalifoux to set up the bottom of the seventh.
The teams split the first two games of the series with the Canadian Boyz winning the opener 11-6 July 21 and the Bench Warmers 22-12 July 22.
The Bench Warmers play the first place 86’ers in the league semi-final. The schedule for the best–of-five series was not available at pres time.
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