Staff
Travis Tom keeps dealing–and the Fort Frances Braves keep winning.
Tom handcuffed the defending champion Sight & Sound Wolves in pitching the Braves to a 5-1 victory in Rainy River District Fastball League action last Thursday at VanJura.
The Braves (11-1) and Wolves (10-4) were tied for third entering the game in points, with the Braves holding two games in hand.
Tom had the game well in hand from the rubber while the Braves’ offence was sparked by a trio of home runs from Chris Bourgeois, Cole Tymkin, and Jacob Jack.
The Braves (11-1) also extended their winning streak to three games.
John Desaulniers took the loss for Sight & Sound (10-4), which had a two-game win streak snapped.
In other games, first place continues to be a dogfight between the Dawson Tigers and Barwick Blue Knights.
The Tigers (13-1) kept their half-game lead intact with a 25-4 rout of the 13th-place Sabaskong Goldeneyes (2-10).
Jeff Morrison once again was money on the rubber in helping Dawson win its 11th-straight game.
He also belted two homers to go along with one by Matt Godin.
Keenan Copenace suffered the defeat for the expansion Goldeneyes, which now have dropped three-straight games.
Meanwhile, Barwick (13-2) blanked the Sabaskong Lakers 11-0.
Vaughan Wilson homered as the Blue Knights rebounded from just their second loss of the season earlier in the week.
Merlin Kelly took the loss as the seventh-place Lakers (7-6-1) had their three-game unbeaten streak end.
The Couchiching Raiders (10-4) won their fourth-straight game in downing Windey’s Warriors 13-5 last Thursday.
Sheldon Kelly Jr. and Chris Morrisseau both homered to lead the offence.
Sheldon Kelly Sr. earned the win while Rob McGinnis took the loss for the Warriors (6-8) despite racking up 13 strikeouts.
The Stratton Eagles (9-6) stayed on the Raiders’ heels after rolling over the Sabaskong Cubs 16-5.
Pitcher Shelby Nosan earned her first win this season as Stratton won its second-straight game.
Kevin Copenace homered for the 12th-place Cubs (3-12) but also was the losing pitcher.
The Manitou Thunderbirds recorded their first non-forfeit win since opening game by topping the Northwest Bay Chieftains 8-7.
Mike Jourdain’s homer, coupled with his pitching performance, vaulted Manitou into 11th place in the standings.
Northwest Bay starter Braden Smith took the loss as the ninth-place Chieftains (4-10) now have dropped five-straight.
The game between the Northwest Bay Juniors and Rainy River Royals was postponed, with a makeup date not yet announced.
All teams were scheduled to be in action last night, with the scores unavailable at press time.
The league then resumes action tomorrow at 7 p.m. with Barwick visiting Dawson in a battle for top spot.
Couchiching hosts the Braves, Sight & Sound visits Manitou, Rainy River heads to Stratton, and Windey’s is at Sabaskong to face the Goldeneyes.
The Cubs and Lakers will square off in an all-Sabaskong showdown while band rivals the Chieftains and Juniors clash in Northwest Bay.
