Mitch Calvert
The local Sight & Sound Wolves clipped the visiting Sabaskong Cubs 9-6 in Rainy River District Fastball League action last night at VanJura Field.
The Wolves improved to 5-5 with the win while the Cubs remained winless at 0-10.
Sight & Sound trailed 4-2 going into the fourth inning before Marcel Pagee stroked a two-run triple to the gap in right-centre.
The Cubs then overthrew third trying to gun him down and Pagee was awarded home on the error to complete the three-run play.
Pagee followed that up with a four-pitch inning in the top of the fifth, then the Wolves added to their lead in the bottom half.
With two gone and a runner on, Joe Sinclair looked to be the final out on a soft grounder to the pitcher, but Cubs’ first baseman Clint Bruyere dropped the low throw to extend the inning.
That would prove costly as a wild pitch in the next at-bat put runners on second and third, then Wolves’ second baseman Joel Ashworth promptly brought them both home with a base hit.
Pagee fanned the first two batters he faced to begin the top of the sixth, then induced a lazy pop fly to shortstop Curtis Wepruk to put down the Cubs in order for the second-straight inning.
The Wolves played a little long ball in the sixth to cushion their lead. After manager Derek McKinnon led off with a double, Dale Jerry followed with a towering homer to right-centre to give the Wolves a commanding 9-4 bulge.
Sight & Sound made several quality defensive plays in the final inning to preserve the win. On the first out, Ashworth charged a hard grounder and stopped it with his chest.
Then Pagee was there to scoop up the ricochet and fire it to first for the out.
Sinclair then made a quick stab on a hard-hit grounder to third and threw a strike to get the runner.
But Sinclair was tested with another hard grounder in the next at-bat and couldn’t scoop it cleanly, extending the inning.
That opened the door slightly for Sabaskong and Mic Copenace made the most it—hitting a frozen-rope homer to make things interesting.
That would be as close as the Cubs could get, however, as Pagee retired the final batter to end any hopes of a comeback.
In other RRDFL scores last night, Big Grassy beat Barwick 7-6 in a battle for top spot. The Lightning improved to 7-1 while Barwick fell to 8-3.
Bill Copenace homered for the Lightning.
Meanwhile, Stratton (5-4) topped Big Island (6-4) by a score of 11-9.
Guy Arpin picked up the win along with a home run for the Bobcats while Jessie Tom hit his league-leading sixth homer in a losing effort.
In league scores from Tuesday, Barwick mauled Big Island 15-4, Rainy River pounded Sabaskong 14-2, and Stratton outlasted Sight & Sound 20-15.
