Staff
The Dawson Tigers’ tendency to stay busier than the rest of the league is proving to be a productive strategy.
A doubleheader sweep in Sabaskong on Sunday has pushed the Tigers into first place in the Rainy River District Fastball League with a 5-1 record.
Jeff Morrison was dominant from the rubber in beating the Sabaskong Goldeneyes 22-1 and then the Sabaskong Cubs 17-1.
Tom Armstrong homered for Dawson against losing pitcher Darryl Beacham of the Goldeneyes (1-4), who now have lost two-straight.
Kevin Copenace took the loss for the Cubs (0-5).
Morrison was coming off a complete-game 5-0 shutout of Stratton on Thursday, with Jackson Arpin getting tagged with the loss.
Dawson’s win over Stratton means the second-place Fort Frances Braves, who edged the defending champion Sight & Sound Wolves 2-1 on Thursday, are the last unbeaten team in the league at 4-0.
Travis Tom hurled a six-hitter, with three walks and seven strikeouts, in an outstanding pitching duel against John Desaulniers of the Wolves (4-1).
Desaulniers allowed just seven hits and issued just one walk while striking out nine in going the distance
The game was scoreless until the third when the Braves struck first.
With one out, Dakota Andy and Tom smoked back-to-back singles to right to put runners on the corners.
Jesse Tom proceeded to pop out to third baseman Matt Cheetham in foul territory. But Travis Tom opted to advance to second on the pop-up, eliciting a throw from Cheetham.
That was Andy’s cue to sprint home and just beat the throw for a 1-0 lead.
The Wolves struck right back in the fourth.
Rob Kinsman drew a lead-off walk and came around to score on Cheetham’s two-out RBI single.
The Braves cashed in the winning run on a two-out rally, courtesy of the Tom brothers.
Travis, who leads the RRDFL with three homers, hammered a double to right before Jesse followed by stinging a grounder just under Brandon Gustafson’s glove at second to bring around his sibling.
The Wolves threatened in the seventh, getting two on with one out on Cheetham’s single and a walk to Nick Wepruk.
But Gustafson and Duane Carlson both flew out to end the game.
Also in the logjam for second are the Barwick Blue Knights, who beat the Goldeneyes 7-1 on Thursday.
JJ Landry earned the win over Beacham.
In an all-Couchiching battle, the Raiders (3-1) cruised to an 11-3 victory over Windey’s Warriors (2-4).
Sheldon Kelly Sr. came out on top in the pitching battle against Warriors’ starter Rob McGinnis.
Meanwhile, the Sabaskong Lakers (3-1) got a strong performance from James Yerxa in his season debut on the rubber in stopping the Rainy River Royals 9-3.
Chris Stone took the loss for the Royals (0-5).
The Northwest Bay Chieftains improved to 3-2 on the season with a 5-4 victory over the Manitou Thunderbirds (1-4).
Tanner Smith kept the Thunderbirds mostly at bay, despite giving up the second homer of the season hit by Mike Jourdain, while Nate Debungee took the loss.
Looking ahead to tomorrow’s action, the Goldeneyes will be at VanJura to face Sight & Sound while Rainy River is at Couchchiching.
The Braves are in Sabaskong to play the Cubs, Windey’s heads to Pinewood to face Dawson, Manitou is in Stratton, and Barwick visits the Chieftains.
The Northwest Bay Juniors (0-4) and Lakers have the byes.
