Stratton snaps Wolves’ winning streak

The Sight & Sound Wolves dropped a hard-fought 9-8 decision in Stratton on Tuesday night in Rainy River District Fastball League action.
“It was 6-6 going into the top of seven and Derek [McKinnon] hit a two-run homer to put us up 8-6 going to the last half-inning, but they put three runs through and that was it,” said pitcher Marcel Pagee, who suffered his first loss of the season.
“Just one of those games, I guess. My first loss,” he added.
“We’re on a little bit of a break right now, no game Thursday [tonight] and the all-star game [this] Tuesday, so we’ll just have to get things going again after,” Pagee remarked.
Prior to Tuesday night’s loss, the Wolves had rattled off three-straight wins last week to remain in top spot in the RRDFL standings.
They got the week started with a 9-0 win over Barwick on July 22, with Curtis Wepruk, Duane Carlson, and Paul Visser all going deep.
And then in a home double-header last Thursday evening, with “Trooper” playing in the background, the Wolves swept Sabaskong 9-2 and 9-5 in back-to-back five-inning games.
“We had a couple strong hitting games right through the lineup, and Paul Visser hit a home run in the second game,” noted McKinnon, who is the Wolves’ manager.
But the biggest news of out the Wolves’ camp is the injury to ace pitcher Bob Andy, which has forced him onto the injured list for the rest of the season.
“He had a grease gun blow off in his hand and cut it up, and grease got into his index finger on his pitching hand,” McKinnon explained. “He had to have surgery to get it cleaned out.
“Maybe if it was the other hand, he could come out for the last few games here, but some other guys will just have to step up,” he added.
Pagee has since taken over the pitching reins and is now 4-1 in relief of Andy.
“That’s the reason all the teams have been trying to run two pitchers out there for part of every game,” McKinnon said. “I guess it was good we got Marcel some work; he’s been doing good so we’re looking OK.”
Sight & Sound continues to sit in first place with a 13-2 record, with Big Grassy in second at 12-4.
Rainy River and Barwick are tied for third at 7-9, followed by Big Island (6-8), Sabaskong (5-9), and Stratton (2-12).
As noted, the league’s annual all-star game will take place this Tuesday (Aug. 5) at Big Grassy. The ballots were to be in and tabulated by Monday.
McKinnon will manage one team while George Oltsher (Barwick Blue Knights) will be in the other dugout as the two representatives of last year’s playoff finalists.
Meanwhile, the league playoffs will start Aug. 12, so it’s getting down near the end with only two remaining regular-season games scheduled (although rain make-up games might push things back a bit).
The league’s home run leader as of July 24 was Tony Armstrong (Rainy River) with eight. Jesse Tom (Big Island) was next with seven, followed by Paul Visser (Sight & Sound) at four.
Guy Arpin (Stratton), Curtis Wepruk (Sight & Sound), Marcel Pagee (Sight & Sound), and Brian Hook (Big Grassy) are were tied for fourth with three homers each.