Staff
Jaden Gustafson tossed a complete-game shutout, and the Tom brothers each belted homers, as the top-seeded Rainy Lake Pirates bombed the fourth-ranked Couchiching Raiders 18-0 in Rainy River District Fastball League East Division second-round playoff action Tuesday at the St. Francis Sports Field.
The Pirates, who had a first-round bye, next will face the second-seeded Sight & Sound Wolves this Tuesday at 7 p.m. at St. Francis.
The Wolves, who also had a first-round bye, had a much more difficult test this past Tuesday but made the grade with a 9-8 win over the third-ranked Windey’s Warriors.
Marcel Pagee got the win despite giving up Stu Allan’s homer.
Tyson Williams took the loss for the Warriors, who now will try to extend their season tonight at 7 p.m. at Couchiching against the Raiders in a win-or-go-home game in the double-elimination playoffs.
The other East Division game Tuesday saw pitcher Kevin Copenace lead the sixth-ranked Sabaskong Cubs to a 17-7 win over the fifth-seeded Sabaskong Lakers, who were eliminated with the loss.
Makwa Copenace belted a clutch grand slam for the Cubs while Cecil Copenace also homered.
Kyle Copenace homered for the Lakers but also was the losing pitcher.
The Cubs next will play the winner of the Raiders-Warriors clash this coming Tuesday.
In the West Division, the top-seeded Blue Knights didn’t look rusty after their first-round bye as they beat the fifth-ranked Manitou Thunderbirds 6-1 on Tuesday in Barwick.
JJ Landry earned the win over Jeff Morrison, with Vaughan Wilson blasting a round-tripper for the victors.
Barwick next will host the third-ranked Stratton Eagles, who upset the second-seeded Big Island Huskies 3-1 there.
Guy Arpin earned the victory over Matt Comegan.
Stratton will visit the Blue Knights this coming Tuesday while Big Island will host Manitou in a losers’ side elimination game tonight.
The survivor of that one will play Tuesday against the fourth-ranked Dawson Tigers.
The Tigers stayed alive with a 19-3 home win over the sixth-seeded Rainy River this past Tuesday, which eliminated the Royals from further contention.
Matt Anderson got the win over Benji Dobransky.
