Spurs start winning streak as regular season winds down

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times

In another busy week for the Vauxhall Spurs, the team was hopeful of starting to play their best ball as July signals the end of the regular season. The Spurs were in action for seven games last week as they looked to round into form. 

First up for the Spurs was a doubleheader on July 2 against the Lewistown Redbirds. In a back-and-forth battle, it was Vauxhall who was able to carve out a 16-11 win. Eric Reiling was instrumental in the win with a hit and four RBI while Roman Pavka and Mark Vulcano notched two hits each. Langdyn Cummins, Parker McLaughlin, Randon Lauwen, Ryley Jensen, and Cayden Fehr all contributed with a hit in the win. Tanner Bullock started the game going three innings and he punched out three batters. Overall, he allowed an earned run on one hit and six walks. Sidney Pedersen came out of the bullpen and went 1.2 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on three hits and a walk. Jensen pitched two innings and allowed four earned runs on four hits and a pair of walks. The final pitcher out of the pen for Vauxhall was Vulcano who collected a single out. 

After a high-scoring affair in game one, both teams tightened things up in the second game. Once again, Vauxhall was able to push forward a win as they took it 6-2. Reiling was a key contributor with three hits while Cummins, Howg, Vulcano, Jensen, and Jacob Falkenberg all had a hit in the game. Daxton Schrader got the ball to start and went five strong innings. He allowed no runs on a hit and a walk, while striking out three. Fehr pitched 1.1 innings and allowed two unearned runs on three hits and two walks. He also had two strikeouts in his appearance. Vulcano once again closed things out with two-thirds of an inning pitched where he had a strikeout and a walk. 

With two big wins in the books, the team was off on the road to compete in the Hargens/Leisy Tournament in Gillette, WY. First up was a matchup against the Sheridan Wyoming Jets on July 4. Despite some inclement weather that led to a delay, the Spurs continued to hit the ball all over the park. Thanks to a few great offensive innings, the Spurs were able to win game one 14-9. Pavka was unstoppable going 4-4 with two RBI. Vulcano and Bullock each notched three hits and Cummins had a pair. Howg, Reiling, Jensen, and McLaughlin all had a hit in the win. Lauwen pitched 2.1 innings to start for the Spurs and allowed four unearned runs on one hit and three walks. He also had six strikeouts on the day. Pedersen collected two outs while allowing a hit and two walks while striking out one. Falkenberg was the next man out of the bullpen, going 1.1 innings with three earned runs allowed on three hits, a walk, and three strikeouts. Fehr gave the Spurs 0.2 innings and allowed two earned runs on two hits and a walk while punching out one batter. Cummins went the final two innings on the mound where he only allowed one hit and struck out two. Later that day, the Spurs were back on the diamond as they took on Rapid City. As weather continued to be a factor, the game was called in the sixth inning and the Spurs took home a 9-6 win. Reiling continued to swing a hot bat as the right fielder had three more hits, including a pair of doubles. Cummins and Jensen had two knocks each, while Howg, Pavka, Fehr, and McLaughlin all had one hit. Micah Fontaine gave the Spurs a quality start and struck out five. Over his 5.2 innings, he allowed six runs (two earned) on eight hits and six walks. Pavka pitched one-third of an inning allowing one walk. 

With a great start to the tournament, July 5 saw the Spurs back in action as they took on the Ft Morgan Wranglers. Thanks to runs in the first two innings, the Spurs were able to take the game 6-2. Schrader was masterful on the mound as he pitched all seven innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks, and he also collected one strikeout on the day, Offensively, Vauxhall saw Cummins, Howg, and Reiling all had two hits on the day. Pavka and Vulcano had one each in the win. 

With a 3-0 record in round-robin play, the Spurs lined up for a chance to hop straight into the finals if they could beat the Premier West Outlaws. Later on July 5, the two teams were back on the diamond. Once again, the Spurs’ offence proved to be too much for the opposition as they cruised to a 10-2 victory. Cummins. Pavka, Bullock and Lauwen all continued to hit well as they each had another two hits. Reiling, Vulcano, and Jensen all contributed a hit to vault Vauxhall into the final. Cummins pitched all five innings for the Spurs and he had eight strikeouts in the win. He allowed two earned runs on six hits and three walks. 

Looking to stay undefeated and return home with some hardware, the Spurs lined up for a rematch against the Wranglers. Despite a big margin of victory in their first game, the final between the two was a battle for all seven innings. In the bottom of the seventh and tied 2-2, Vauxhall came up to bat looking to walk it off. With two on, Pavka stepped to the plate and delivered a massive two-run triple to win the game 4-2. Cummins went 3-3 at the top of the order while Howg, Pavka, and Reiling all had two hits. Vulcano and Lauwen contributed with a hit each in the win. Bullock was the starting pitcher and was dominant. Pitching all seven innings, Bullock had six strikeouts and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks. 

Next action for the Spurs comes on July 9 when they head back down south for a doubleheader against the Great Falls Chargers.