Big Win

by Len Nunes

Going into the 9th inning, our Prospects up 8-6 over the Moose Jaw Miller Express and the Express load the bases.  Uh-oh here we go again right? Wrong!  Prospects pitcher Sean Guite induces a game ending flyball to left field and our Prospects hold on to win 8-7!

Prospects starting pitcher Zach Hanks would earn his first win of the season settling down nicely after the Express scored three runs in the first inning.  Three of Hanks seven innings pitched were three up three down innings.

Our Prospects offense tied the game at three in the bottom of the second inning.  The scoring started when 3B Tony Olson would fly out scoring RF Spencer Dunlap.  CF Connor Battaglia would be credited with a steal of home scoring the Prospects second run of the game and 2B Tommy Clouthier would score on a mishandled ball by the Express shortstop.

Our Prospects would take their first lead of the game when Tony Olson would score on a wild pitch making it 4-3 after four innings.

Now down 5-4 going into the bottom of the seventh and with the bases loaded, Tommy Clouthier would hit a bases clearing double putting our Prospects back into the lead at 7-5.

Moose Jaw would make it 7-6 in the top of the eighth inning only to see our Prospects take that run back in the bottom of the 8th when Spencer Dunlap hit an RBI double scoring Logan Wedgewood. This would end up being the game winning RBI as the Express would score in the top of the 9th but fall short as our Prospects enjoyed win number three of the season.

POT OF GOLD:

With 6 stolen bases during the game our Prospects moved out of the league basement into ninth overall.  What needs to be noted is that the Prospects rank 4th overall in stealing percentage.

Tommy Clouthier re-gained the league lead in being hit by a pitch with his 10th plunk of the season.

NEXT GAME:

 

A Sunday afternoon game versus the Saskatoon Yellow Jackets (10-10).  2:05PM is the scheduled first pitch at Telus Field.

 

 

Monday – July 1^st, 7:05 pm at Telus Field: 

CELEBRATE CANADA DAY WITH THE PROSPECTS -

  AJ & Friends will be on hand both before and after the game to insure the night is filled with fun, excitement, great music and great baseball!

 

BEST PLACE IN THE CITY TO WATCH THE FIREWORKS!

A Tale Told To Often

by Len Nunes

Facing the league's second highest scoring team, Prospects starting pitcher Jordan Geiger was up to the task.  Geiger would allow a run in his first and last inning finishing the game with eight strong innings under his belt.

Twice our Propsects would battle back from one run deficits to send the game into the ninth tied at two and turning the ball over to the bullpen.  Moose Jaw's offense feasted on our bullpen putting up six runs in the ninth and defeating our Prospects 8-2.

Our Prospects first run was scored in the 6th inning when DH Bryn Redhead would single home 2B Connor Jauch.   Our Prospects second run of the night was scored in the 8th when LF Nathan Parade de la Feraude, with the bases loaded, would fly out deep enough to score Connor Jauch.

With the RBI, Redhead moved into second place on the team with 9 and de la Feraude moved into third place with 8 on the season.

RE-MATCH

Saturday June 29th at 7:05PM at Telus Field.

CANADA DAY FIREWORKS

 

The best place to view the fireworks is Telus Field.

Be sure to buy a ticket to Monday night's Prospects game

to guarantee a seat for the fireworks!

Coming Home

Our Edmonton Prospects (2-17) return home for a four game Canada Day Weekend at Telus Field starting this Friday versus the Moose Jaw Miller Express (9-12).

With last Tuesday's game in Saskatoon being rained out and Prospects starting pitcher Michael Nelson throwing a complete game on Wednesday, our weary Prospects bullpen will have three days of rest leading into Friday nights game. 

While Moose Jaw currently boast the second highest scoring team in the WMBL our Edmonton Prospects offence has shown some great potential.  With all the rain it feels like forever ago but it was just one week that our Prospects scored a minimum of 8 runs per game through a four game stretch!  Your Prospects are led by Sean Guite (.420) and Andy Wicklund (.405), whom are currently 4th and 6th in WMBL batting average.

Friday and Saturday games versus Moose Jaw start at 7:05PM. 

 

Be sure to guarantee yourself a seat for the Canada Day Fireworks

 by also purchasing tickets to Monday night's game!!

Underdogs

Your Edmonton Prospects come home tonight (Monday June 24) for a one game homestand against an opponent that has had our number all season.  The Okotoks Dawgs make their way into Telus Field after earning their seventh victory against our squad last night in Okotoks.

Going into tonight's game the Okotoks Dawgs have the top two hitters in WMBL batting average race.  Our Prospects have the number three and four hitters, Sean Guite and Andy Wicklund respectively.

Bring your camera to take pictures with the legendary mascot Homer as he roams the concourse and bring your rally towels to urge on your Prospects!!  Game starts at 7:05 and if it starts to rain, we do sell umbrellas!

NEXT UP:

Our boys travel to Saskatoon to play the Yellow Jackets (7-8) on Tuesday and Wednesday before enjoying a travel/rest day on Thursday.

HEADS UP IT'S ONLY A WEEK AWAY:

Monday – July 1^st, 7:05 pm at Telus Field: CELEBRATE CANADA DAY WITH THE PROSPECTS - Party, music, family fun, baseball and the best place in the city to watch the fireworks! AJ & Friends will be on hand both before and after the game to insure the night is filled with fun, excitement, great music and great baseball! 

We are expecting a sellout due to the fireworks, don't be disappointed,

buy your tickets as soon as possible!

Flying Higher Than Cardinals

Edmonton Prospect infielder Logan Wedgewood wrapped up last night's game perfectly via twitter:
"#raindelay festivities, triple play, and win, #fantastic day at the ballpark #prospects"

Your Edmonton Prospects (2-14) grabbed hold of their 2nd win of the season defeating the Yorkton Cardinals (6-11) by a convincing score of 9-2.

Every Edmonton Prospect player reached base safely at least once and your Prospects scored in each of the first 5 innings building up an 8-2 lead.

Before I delve into the scoring breakdown, credit has to be given to Prospects starting pitcher Cory Duggan who pitched a solid (and much needed) eight innings deservedly picking up his first win of the season.  Duggan only allowed five hits and two walks before giving way in the ninth inning to Aaron Pepin.  

The ninth inning has been a sore spot for our bullpen especially this past week and some nervousness had to enter the dugout when the first two Cardinals reached base safely.  That is when one of the rarest plays in baseball happened - - the triple play!!

3B Sean Guite opened the scoring for your Prospects with his league leading 8th double of the season driving home DH Andy Wicklund.  Speaking of Mr. Wicklund, his 4-5 night at the dish raised his batting average to a league best .452!

In the 2nd inning, CF Connor Battaglia singled scoring LF Nathan Parade de la Feraude. 

In the 3rd inning with the bases loaded, C Spencer Dunlap was hit by pitch bringing in SS Connor Jauch.  2B Tony Olson would clear the bases with a double giving our Prospects a 6-1 lead.

The lead would grow to 7-1in the 4th inning when 1B Bryn Redhead would single home Wicklund.

Battaglia picked up his 2nd RBI of the game in the 5th inning making 8-2.  Your Prospects final tally of the night would occur in the bottom of the 7th when Wicklund scored  RF Dean Olson.

POT OF GOLD:

During the bottom of the 4th inning there was about a 30 minute rain delay and the fans in attendance were treated to some amazing family entertainment provided by both clubhouses.

It started off with a couple of Prospect players pretending to be hunting which then somehow turned into a "danceoff" between the clubs.  The "danceoff" turned into a war re-enactment that had stage show quality followed by the clubhouses alternating sport demonstrations.  Sport demos included human bowling, human jousting, tennis, hockey, football, mid-air swimming and many more.

To see some pictures and videos of the rain delay festivites, scroll through the Edmonton Prospects Twitter page

NEXT UP:

Our Prospects travel to Lethbridge where they hope to play Saturday night at 7:05PM.

For Prospects fans hoping to catch the game on Shaw TV, as per Twitter's @WMBLonShaw, "game broadcasts scheduled for this weekend have been cancelled due to #yycflood. We hope everyone stays safe and dry."

The Edmonton Prospects Baseball Club wishes all families

affected by the Southern Alberta flooding the best in recovering

 from the terrible situation as quickly as possible.

Not in the Cards

For the second time in the past three games, our Prospects were three outs away from victory.  Win number two on the season continues to elude our Prospects (1-14) as the Yorkton Cardinals (6-10) rallied for five runs in the ninth inning to defeat the home team 12-9.

After the Cardinals jumped out to a 2-0 lead, your Prospects chipped away and led 3-2 after five innings. 

C Bryn Redhead opened the scoring for our Prospects in the third inning with a RBI single bringing home CF Connor Battaglia.  In the fourth inning 3B Andy Wicklund would earn an RBI with single knocking home 2B Tommy Clouthier. In the fifth inning DH Jordan Geiger would hit a sacrifice fly scoring Sean Guite.

Then after the Cardinals took a 7-4 lead, your Prospects battled back to regain the lead at 9-7 going into the ninth inning.

In the sixth inning Wicklund would double scoring Battaglia.  In the seventh inning, Geiger would double scoring Redhead then got cashed in with a Spencer Dunlop double.

In the 8th inning, Guite's 2nd triple of the game scored Wicklund and Jauch.  Guite would be cashed by Geiger to finish our Prospects scoring on the evening.

POT OF GOLD:

Here's an impressive list of what Sean Guite has accomplished so far this season:

• 3rd in WMBL doubles with 7
• tied for 1st in WMBL in 3
• 8th in WMBL batting average with a .389 average
• 9th in WMBL RBI total with 13

Also in the top 10 in the league batting average are Prospects Andy Wicklund (.421 places 3rd) and Bryn Redhead (.377 places 10th)

NEXT UP:

Friday - June 21^st, 7:05 pm at Telus Field - “A NIGHT WITH JIMMY WHIFFEN”
Jimmy Whiffen's sound has been influenced by some of the best country and rock tunes ever written and played, and it shows. With over 6,000 gigs, countless miles in the rearview mirror, the hole in his guitar, and over 500 renditions of these great songs . . . well, you have to hear it for yourself. Jimmy joins the Prospects for an evening of pure unadulterated fun mixing baseball with music to provide fans with a truly Canadian experience! AJ & Friends presents special guest Jimmy Whiffen for this evenings pre-game tailgate party – Tickets available online at Ticketmaster for $20 and includes the Jimmy Whiffen pregame show and ballgame!

Never Give Up

by Len Nunes

A quick glance at last night's Prospects game boxscore shows another loss to the Okotoks Dawgs, this time 11-9.  Another glance at the boxscore shows you that your Prospects scored seven runs in the bottom of the ninth which should count as a lesson for us fans. 

What lesson you ask?  Do not let the 1-13 record fool into believing this team is about to pack things in for the season.  The fighting spirit runs deep in your Prospect clubhouse and sooner rather than later the wins will come for this determined bunch of ball players.

Here's a breakdown of the epic ninth inning from last night:

• pinch hitters Tony Olson and Nathan Parade de la Feraude both reach base
• pinch hitter Jordan Geiger doubles scoring T. Olson
• Dean Olson sinlges scoring de la Feraude
• Connor Battaglia hits into an RBI groundout scoring Geiger
• Andy Wicklund singles and Jauch records out number two
• Bryn Redhead singles home D. Olson
• Sean Guite singles home Wicklund
• de la Feraude (in his 2nd at bat of the inning) singles home Redhead and Guite

NEXT UP:

A 2 game homestand versus the Yorkton Cardinals (4-9) on Thursday June 20 and Friday June 21.

Both games are scheduled to start at 7:05PM and both games have special attractions.

Thursday is our 2nd edition of "Thirsty Thursday" where you get to save $1 on beer.

Friday is our 2nd edition of our "Tailgate Party" this time featuring the musical stylings of Jimmy Whiffen.

Got'em! Nope, Don't Got'em!

by Len Nunes

Hayden Cleveland of the Okotoks Dawgs was making his third consecutive start against our Prospects yesterday afternoon, his first two appearances were shutouts.  Our Prospects learned their lesson and ousted Cleveland after only one of inning of play yesterday by scoring 3 runs before the opposing pitcher could even register an out!

The Dawgs would tie the score at 3 in their half of the first inning but our Prospects came out even hotter in the second inning disposing of yet another Okotoks pitcher.  This time round our Prospects would put up 4 runs before the opposing pitcher registered his first out and led 7-3 going into the bottom of the 2nd inning.

After the Dawgs scored a run in the bottom of the second, our Prospects quickly responded in the top of the third with an RBI single by starting DH Andy Wicklund.  It already was Wicklund's 3rd hit of the afternoon which made the game 8-4 for our Prospects.

The Dawgs (9-3) would gnaw away at the lead and in the 8th inning would put up four runs to defeat our Prospects (1-12) by a score of 12-8.

POT OF GOLD:

1B Sean Guite hit four doubles yesterday afternoon vaulting him to the top of the WMBL with the most doubles at 7. Guite also had 5 RBI vaulting him to the top of your Prospects team RBI leaders with a total of 10.

Wicklund batting .391 sits 8th overall in the WMBL in batting average with teammates Bryn Redhead (.372) and Guite (.364) joining him in the Top 20.

NEXT GAME:

Tuesday June 18 at Telus Field versus the Okotoks Dawgs.  Game time is 7:05.

A Day to Prepare

by Len Nunes

Your Edmonton Prospects (1-11) are off today (June 15) to prepare for the Okotoks Dawgs (8-2) on Sunday June 16th in Okotoks.  Your Prospects then get Monday off once again to prepare for the Dawgs on Tuesday June 18th at the friendly confines of Telus Field.

If you are a Shaw TV subscriber, you can be like Prospects Coach McMullen and watch the Dawgs game tonight on Shaw Community TV.  Next week, your Prospects will be on Shaw TV when they travel to Lethbridge to play the Bulls on Saturday night.

Your Prospects have gone winless in four attempts against the Dawgs this young season but there have been some bright spots:

• Andy Wicklund has gone 4-14 with 4 walks
• Sean Guite has gone 4-11 with 2 doubles, 2 walks and 2 hit-by-pitches and a RBI
• Nathan Parade de la Feraude has gone 5-11 with 3 RBI
• Justin Hanks pitched well going 7 innings only giving up three runs on three hits

POT OF GOLD

Jordan Geiger made his WMBL debut for your Prospects with a clean inning of work on Friday versus the powerhouse Swift Current Indians.

Your Prospects lead the league in batters hit by pitch with 23 so far this season.  Tommy Clouthier leads the league with 7 plunks and Brandon Mikulka is second with 5.  Both are from Creighton University.

 

Let's Try That Again

by Len Nunes

When playing a first place team like the Swift Current Indians, it is important to get on the scoreboard first.  Last night, a debuting Conner Jauch (playing at 2B) led the game off by being hit by a pitch and worked himself around the bases to open the scoring for your Prospects.

Another key is not allowing your opposition, especially the caliber of the Indians, to put up big innings on offense.  This would be the downfall of our Prospects on the Club's first ever "Thirsty Thursday".  The Indians would have three separate big innings and defeat our Prospects by a score of 14-4.

Starting DH Dean Olson earned 2 RBI on the night both via the sacrifice fly, one in the 2nd inning and one in the 9th inning.

Starting LF Sean Guite also earned a RBI with a single in the 6th inning.

POT OF GOLD:

With 3 hits last night, SS Andy Wicklund moves into 7th overall in the WMBL in batting average at an impressive .405 clip.

NEXT GAME:

Tonight at Telus Field, Coach McMullen and crew try their hand once again against the Swift Current Indians.  Scheduled start time is 7:05PM

Connor Girard (1-1) is scheduled to be our Prospects starting pitcher.  In his previous start, Girard went a strong 7 innings giving up only two runs and striking out 6 leading our Prospects to their lone victory this season.

The One That Got Away

by Len Nunes

Your Edmonton Prospects (1-9) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the 3rd inning and were leading 5-2 going to the bottom of the 6th inning.  That is when the Medicine Hat Mavericks (10-1) had back-to-back 5 run innings to steal away a Prospects win.  The final score of 12-6 looks lopsided but for most of the game your Prospects had the defending West Division Champs on the ropes.

Your Prospects starting pitcher Justin Hanks  walked the first batter he faced then retired 7 in a row before giving up two runs.  Hanks would then retire the next 8 Maverick batters before the curse of the "third time round batting order" would end his night.

Your Prospects would open the scoring in the 3rd inning with a RBI sacrifice fly by 2B Tommy Clouthier.  DH Bryn Redhead would hit an RBI single then with the bases loaded RF Dwight Mack would put a ball in play that would score Redhead and SS Andy Wicklund opening up a 4-0 lead for our Prospects.

In the 6th inning your Prospects would make their lead 5-2 when RF Connor Battaglia would hit a RBI single scoring Mack. 

In the 9th inning down by seven but refusing to go away quietly your Prospects would score their 6th run of the game when Redhead hit a single scoring Clouthier.

UP NEXT:

If Mother Nature allows it, your Edmonton Prospects are scheduled to host the Swift Current Indians at Telus Field tonight (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday).  Both games scheduled to begin at 7:00PM.

Don't forget to bring your Rally Towels!!

POT OF GOLD:

This is the second time this season your Prospects play Swift Current.  Here are some highlight performers from the first two game set the teams played.

Michael Nelson is your pencilled in starting pitcher tonight versus Swift Current.  When Nelson faced Swift Current earlier this season he went 7 strong innings giving up only four hits and one run.

Greg Rodgers went 4-7 with a RBI.

Bryn Redhead went 3-5 with 2 RBI and a debuting Andy Wicklund went 3-5 with a RBI.

Re-match of Season Opener

by Len Nunes

Twelve days ago the WMBL season opened up for your Edmonton Prospects facing the West Division Champs in Medicine Hat. Your Prospects would take the Mavericks to extra innings losing in the 13th. Since that day the Mavericks have roared out to a 9-1 start while our Prospects have struggled out of the gate at 1-8.

Tonight's starting Prospects pitcher Justin Hanks (0-1) had a shaky WMBL debut against the Mavericks but was solid in his second WMBL start. Before joining the Prospects, Hanks pitched for Chapman University posting a 4-8 record. Two of those wins were complete games, one of which was a shutout. Chapman also had a no-decision in a game when he pitched 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball.

During the first meeting versus the Mavericks the following Prospect players collected RBI: 2B Tommy Clouthier, OF Brandon Mikulka, OF Nathan Parade de la Feraude, SS Joey Bergandi.

POT OF GOLD:

Sean Guite has hit safely in all 7 games he has appeared in this season.  He also leads the team in doubles with 3.

Nathan Parade de la Feraude is on a 5 game hitting streak.  He is also tied for the team lead in RBI with Bryn Redhead and Tommy Clouthier at 4.

NEXT HOME GAMES:

Thursday June 13 and Friday June 14 versus the Swift Current Indians.  Both games begin at 7:05PM.

Crazy Eights

Your Edmonton Prospects eighth game of the year was close until the eighth inning. During that eighth inning the Lethbridge Bulls (3-5) sent ten men to the plate collecting six runs en route to an 11-3 win over our Prospects (1-7).

The Bulls had built up a 5-0 lead going into the bottom of the 7th when the Prospects put together an impressive rally.  With the bases loaded starting CF Connor Battaglia would punch in LF Sean Guite to break the shutout bid.  2B Tommy Clouthier would then double scoring 3B Joey Bergandi and Battalglia to pull the Prospects within two at 5-3. 

Then that crazy eighth happened and win number two is temporarily on hold.

POT OF GOLD:

Bryn Redhead went 2 for 3 on the afternoon moving his average to .414 on the season placing him 9th overall in the league in batting average.

Greg Rodgers sits 10th overall in the league in batting average at .407.

UP NEXT:

Your Prospects travel to Okotoks on Tuesday to battle the Dawgs at 7:05 PM.

On Wednesday, your Prospects travel to Medicine Hat to battle the Mavericks at 7:05 PM.

NEXT HOME GAME:

 

Thursday June 13 vs Swift Current

Our first "Thirsty Thursday"

$1 off Beer

Monkey Of Our Back

Aided by a double play in the first and second innings plus another double play in the fourth inning, after a quick team conference on the mound, Connor Girard  left the game after 7 strong innings pitched and your Prospects up by six runs.

Then the dreaded "learning curve" of how do win a game seemed to be creeping in until left fielder Sean Guite was moved onto the mound.  The two runners Guite inherited would cross the plate for the Bulls but Guite would strike out the Bulls DH to end the game with the final score 10-7 for your Edmonton Prospects (1-6).

Your Prospects opened the scoring when C Bryn Redhead would knock in 2B Tommy Clouthier.  Sean Guite would triple sending SS Andy Wicklund home opening up a 2-0 lead after one inning of play.

The third inning would see the Prospects cash in on a loaded bases situation. RF Brandon Mikulka would draw a walk to push home a Prospects run then came the big play of the game. On the first pitch he saw, DH Tony Olson hit the ball into the gap and cleared the bases putting your Propsects up by a score of 6-0.  Joey Bergandi would bring home Olson and the Prospects would increase their lead to 7-0.

The eventual winning run was scored in the 5th inning of play with Bergandi once again at the dish.  Mikulka would cross the dish on an error by the Bulls catcher giving your Prospects an 8-2 lead.

The lead would grow to 9-2 in the seventh inning when CF Connor Battaglia would come up with the bases loaded and single home Redhead.  In the next inning, Redhead would do the RBI work singling home 1B Greg Rodgers to make a 10-3 ball game in favor of our Prospects.

NEXT GAME:

This afternoon at 2:05PM hosting the Lethbridge Bulls (2-5).

Left handed pitcher Houston Edwards will be your Prospects Starting Pitcher.  With two no-decisions in his first two starts but a solid 2.70 ERA, Edwards will look to do his part in helping our Prospects sweep the Bulls.

POT OF GOLD:

After the game run the bases and test your speed against the clock to see if you have major league potential. Kids aged 5 – 10 only

Learning to Win

by Len Nunes

Your Edmonton Prospects have fielded a completely new roster this season.  The 0-6 start is not indicative of the talent on this roster. 

Three times, that's half the losses, the loss was via a walk off hit by the opposition.  The other three losses, one timely hit during multiple opportunties with the bases loaded and the score potentially swings our way.  Confidence remains high that once that elusive first victory is devoured, your Edmonton Prospects will work their way out of this slow start and climb to new heights.

The third walk off loss I mentioned above was last night in Okotoks when our Prospects led 4-3 going to the bottom of the ninth.  A leadoff solo homerun to start the inning tied the game at four.   Then with two out, the Dawgs would rally to win the game 5-4.

Your Edmonton Prospects would load the bases on three separate occasions (the 2nd, 3rd and 6th innings) but would only cash in runners in the 3rd inning.  LF Nathan Parade de la Feraude would single scoring DH Andy Wicklund and 3B Sean Guite giving the team a 2-1 lead.

Your Prospects would again take the lead in the 7th inning when 1B Greg Rodgers would drive in Guite to put the team up 4-3.
POT OF GOLD:

Infielder Tommy Clouthier  was hit by a pitch tonight making it his league leading 6th time he has been plunked.

Infielder Greg Rodgers  is batting .421 this season placing him 8th overall in the league.

Lefty long relief pitcher Cory Duggan is 9th in the league in ERA with a sparkling 1.12 ERA in 8 innings played.

NEXT GAME:

Tonight at Telus Field versus the Lethbridge Bulls (2-4). 

Connor Girard, one of four St. FX Baseball Academy grads on your Edmonton Prospects this spring, will be your Saturday starting pitcher against Lethbridge.

*The first 200 fans to the ballpark will receive a Prospects Go Go Rally Towel. 

So Close

By Len Nunes

What will be overshadowed in last night's 3-0 loss to the Okotoks Dawgs is the wonderful pitching performance put on by Prospects starting pitcher Justin Hanks.

The Okotoks Dawgs scored a run in the opening inning when a leadoff walk would eventually cross the plate on a wild pitch.  The Dawgs would not get their first hit versus Hanks until the 4th inning and were set down in order the 2nd, 5th and 6th.

The dreaded "third time round the batting order" would takes its toll on Hanks.  In the 7th inning the Dawgs would finally scrap together some offense against Hanks scoring their final two runs.

Your Prospect offense put runners on base in each of the first four innings including loading the bases with no out in the 4th inning.  Twice our Prospects would hit infield grounders that the Dawgs were able to get the lead runner at home and keep our Prospects off the scoresheet.

Our Prospects would not threaten again until one out in the 8th inning when 1B Greg Rodgers would double and C Bryn Redhead would single.  Rodgers is now hitting .375 on the season and Redhead is now hitting .400.  Both runners would be stranded.

UP NEXT:

Our Prospects travel to Okotoks to play the Dawgs one more time.  Game time is 7:05.

NEXT HOME GAME:

Saturday June 8th versus the Lethbridge Bulls at 7:05 at Telus Field.

Ninety minutes before the game AJ BRUYERE of AJ and Friends fame will kick off the festivities with the season’s first AJ & Friends Tailgate Party along the 1^st Base BBQ area. Tickets can be purchased online and in advance at Ticketmaster.

*The first 200 fans to the ballpark will receive a Prospects Go Go Rally Towel!

Bases Loaded Jitters

by Len Nunes
Twitter: @Mr_Len

So far in this young season, your Prospects have shown the ability to get on base by any means necessary.  After last night's game our Prospects lead the league in batters getting on base via being hit by a pitch.  Your Prospects are also in the top half of the league in walks and hits. 

The Achilles Heel of the offense this young season has been when the bases are loaded.  Last night was no different as the club would strand the bases loaded in the 2nd, 3rd and 9th inning.

Do not let the 11-4 final score in favor of Okotoks fool you into believing the game was a blowout.  Your Prospects led going into 5th inning and a shaky 9th inning out of the bullpen is what made the score look worse than it really was.

Down 1-0, your Prospects hit the scoreboard in the bottom of the 3rd when DH Sean Guite singled home C Dwight Mack.  A Brandon Mikulka single in the bottom of the 4th would give your Prospects a 2-1 lead.

A cliche came to be reality for our Prospects Starting Pitcher Houston Edwards.  Many baseball analysts say that the third time round the order is always the toughest for a pitcher because the batter has seen what you have.  Going into the 5th inning, the Dawgs batting order came up for that dreaded third time round and earned four runs giving the Dawgs a 5-2 lead.

Your Prospects would get one of those runs back in the bottom of the 5th when LF Nathan Parade de la Feraude plated Guite.

In the bottom of the 9th, 2B  Tommy Clouthier would plate our Prospects fourth run of the night after getting hit by a pitch.  It was the fourth time Clouthier had been hit by a pitch during the game prompting the following tweet from the Creighton University youngster "Creighton baseball never leaves you.. 4 Hit by pitches tonight #wedontmove"

NUGGETS:

Your Edmonton Prospects made their 2013 home debut showing off their new budding stars and bringing back an icon of the Edmonton baseball scene. A warm welcome back to the mascot of all mascots, Homer!

Our Honorable Mayor Mandel threw out the first pitch, a strike from the rubber. First Class all the way. 

NEXT GAME:

The rematch with the Okotoks Dawgs goes tonight at 7:05 at Telus Field  

Sponsored by the Western Manufacturers Technology Show

 

 

Home Field Advantage

by Len Nunes
Twitter: @Mr_Len

Your Edmonton Prospects will be "unveiled" tonight at Telus Field and for our group of road weary young men, a home stand is exactly what they need.  The Prospects come home 0-3 after having a rough day at the ballpark in Swift Current.

One of the many wonderful realities of baseball is that when you do have one of those "rough days", there is no time to dwell on them because you are right back out there ironing out the kinks. 

SS Andy Wicklund made an impressive debut for the Prospects finishing last night 3 for 5 at the plate and earning an RBI when he singled home CF Connor Battaglia. 

Battaglia has reached base safely in all three Prospects game this season which comes as no surprise based on his .333 batting average he posted at Chapman University prior to coming to Edmonton.

DH Bryn Redhead also went 3 for 5 at the plate and earned himself two RBI in the process.  In the 2nd inning he drove home Wicklund and in the 6th inning he drove him 1B Greg Rodgers. 

Rodgers finished the night officially 2 for 2 at the plate with two singles but also had a sacrifice bunt, a walk and was hit by a pitch.  Through three games, Rodgers is hitting a remarkable .417!

Under the category of weird stats, 3B Logan Wedgewood earned himself the team lead in RBI (3) when he drove in a run with loaded bases groundout.  The weird part, Wedgewood has yet to record an official hit.

GAME NIGHT:

Game time tonight versus the Okotoks Dawgs (1-1) is 7:05 PM at Telus Field.

 *The first 200 fans to the ballpark will receive a Prospects Rally Megaphone so they can cheer on the team for the home opener and throughout the season. This megaphone doubles as a popcorn holder!

Three for the price of two

With your 2013 Prospects team players flying in from all over Canada and the United States, spring training for the team consisted of only a few days.  Such is life for all WMBL teams but your Edmonton Prospects have found a way to accelarate the team bonding process.

For a second consecutive night the Prospects played an extra inning game, this time 15 innings!  Sadly the result was the same as the opener as the Prospects would drop the first of two games in Swift Current by the score of 4-3.

Lefty Michael Nelson was your Edmonton Prospects starting pitcher and was rock solid.  At one point in the game he had retired 8 straight Swift Current batters.  The at-bat the broke the streak was a homerun which served as the only run Nelson would allow to cross the plate.

The Prospect offense did not collect its first hit until the 5th inning, we will blame the 8 hour bus ride.  With Greg Rodgers on first with a walk, SS Joey Bergandi would single then RF Nathan Parade de la Feraude would also single to load the bases.  C Logan Wedgewood, making his first appearance of the season, would tie the game with a sacrifice fly.

A two out rally in the sixth inning gave your Prospects a 2-1 lead when 1B Greg Rodgers would drive home 3B Sean Guite.

Your Prospects would again load the bases in the 8th inning and once again Wedgewood would earn the RBI, albeit a painful RBI as he was hit by the pitch.  The 3-1 lead was short lived as in the bottom half of the 8th, the Indians would hit a two run homerun to tie the game.

The Swift Current Indians  had runners in scoring position in the 9th, 11th, 12th and 13th but could not cash in.  Sean Guite, who played third base for the first 12 innings, pitched a perfect 14th but will take the loss for the club as the Indians finally broke the tie in the bottom of the 15th.

UP NEXT:

Your Prospects stay put in Swift Current and finish off the series tonight at 7:00.

Your Prospects home opener is Tuesday Night at lovely Telus Field (John Ducey park for nostalgia buffs)  at 7:05 PM.  Be there for the "unveiling" of your 2013 Edmonton Prospects.

Unlucky 13

As the winter months turned into the spring months and your Prospects roster began to take shape, the belief was that his edition of the team was going to very competitive.  It took the defending West Division Champion Medicine Hat Mavericks 13 innings and a lucky break to defeat your Edmonton Prospects 6-5 in their season opener on Saturday night.

 The Prospects showed the tenacity you can expect all season long as they stormed back from a 5-1 deficit in the 7th inning.  More correctly, the Prospects walked back as with the bases loaded the patient bats of Joey Bergandi, Nathan Parade de la Feraude, and Tommy Clouthier took their base and cut the lead to 5-4.  Bergandi would then tie the game on a passed ball.

The passed ball would also be the lucky break the Mavericks would use in the 13th inning to break the tie and send your Prospects to Swift Current for their game Sunday night hungrier than ever for a victory!

Your Prospects would open the scoring in the first inning when Brandon Mikulka grounded into a fielders choice scoring Tommy Clouthier.

New Prospects Coach Cameron McMullen was quoted earlier this week saying his starting pitchers would only pitch a couple innings.  Prospects sent Justin Hanks to the bump for the start and he pitched a solid 1st and 3rd inning and did well surviving a bases loaded, no out situation in the 2nd inning only surrending three runs.

Tyler Harrison came into the game to pitch for the Prospects with one on in the 4th and retired the side in order.  The game was then rain delayed for about 10 minutes and the delay seemed to affect Harrison as he struggled but survived a bases loaded scare by the Mavericks in the 5th inning. 

After giving up a run in the bottom of the 6th, Cory Duggan took over on the mound.  The first batter Duggan faced would drive home a run with a sacrifice fly then Duggan slammed the door shut for the next four innings.

There were two sportcentre'esqe defensive plays.  In the 5th inning with the bases loaded and two out, the Mavs hit a screamer back up the middle only to have Tommy Clouthier fully extend himself and snatch it out of mid-air.  In the 8th inning with a man on board, a routine single is hit to CF Connor Battaglia.  With a cannon of a throw into the in-field the runner rounding third is too slow returing to third and is picked off.

UP NEXT:

Your Prospects are in Swift Current the next couple nights and anxiously await the home opener on Tuesday June 4th versus the Okotoks Dawgs at 7:05PM at Telus Field.  This will be your first chance to see the "unveiling" of something new and old. 

The first 200 fans to the ballpark will receive a Prospects Rally Megaphone so they can cheer on the team for the home opener and throughout the season. This megaphone doubles as a popcorn holder!