Spurs compete in North Districts

Times Photo by Trevor Busch. DOWN IN FRONT: Baserunner Landon Howg of the Vauxhall Spurs attempts to disrupt a Lethbridge Miners double play with a slide during the American Legion “A” North Districts Tournament in Lethbridge at Lloyd Nolan Yard this weekend.

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times

With the regular season in the rearview mirror, the Vauxhall Spurs were in Lethbridge this past weekend competing for the North District crown.

The Spurs kicked off the tournament on Thursday morning with a matchup against the Great Falls Chargers. The Vauxhall offence was firing on all cylinders in the first game as they took it 15-5. Eric Reiling went 2-4 with a double, triple, and four RBI to lead the way. Parker Mclaughlin and Roman Pavka had two hits and two RBI each, Mark Vulcano was 2-2 with two RBI, Brian Fehr, and Landon Howg had one hit and two RBI each, and Landen Gustafson had a hit in the win. Berkley Emelson got the ball to start the game and went 3.1 innings with three earned runs, seven walks, four hits, and striking out a pair of hitters. Daxton Schrader finished things off by going 1.2 innings allowing one earned run, two hits, no walks, and two strikeouts.

Thanks to a big game one win, the Spurs were back in action Friday afternoon when they took on the Lewistown Redbirds. It was a back-and-forth battle throughout, but the Spurs walked it off 11-10 in the eighth inning thanks to a Gustafson sack fly. Pavka continued to swing a hot bat as the first baseman went 4-5 with three RBI, Gustafson had three hits and three RBI, Reiling had another three hits to go along with two RBI, Howg had a pair of hits and two RBI, Fehr had a hit and an RBI, and Cummins and Mclaughlin had two hits each at the top of the order. Schrader started on the mound and gave the Spurs five innings while punching out four batters and allowing three earned runs on seven hits and two walks. 

Tanner Bullock was the first reliever called upon and went two innings with three earned runs on six hits, one walk, and a strikeout. Cummins pitched the final inning where he struck out two, allowed two hits, and one earned run with no walks.

With a chance to advance to the final with a victory, the Spurs took on the host Lethbridge Miners on Saturday afternoon. It was another close game but the Spurs were able to walk it off once again — this time thanks to a Miner error in the tenth inning. The Spurs continued to hit the ball all over the park as they collected 14 more hits. Reiling had a team-high four including a double and two RBI. Gustafson, Cummins, and Vulcano had two hits each while Howg and Pavka had a hit and an RBI each, and Mclaughlin and Fehr had one hit. Aidan Maxwell was the Spurs’ starter and gave the team eight strong innings with five punch outs, six hits, three earned runs, and two walks. Fehr finished the final two innings with two strikeouts and two hits.

Their ticket was booked to the final, but the Spurs had to wait to see who would join them. With the Miners moving down to the other side of the bracket, they took on the Havre North Stars for a chance for the North District crown. When all was said and done, it was the Miners who were able to punch their ticket as they won 10-0.

In a rematch, the Spurs and Miners were back on the diamond on Sunday afternoon. Like their first game, the two teams saw a tightly contested battle. Despite four errors, the Spurs were able to battle to a 5-4 win and take the North District banner. Micah Fontaine was the starter in the final and pitched six innings with two strikeouts while allowing two earned runs on four hits and three walks. Cummins collected the save. Pavka had a pair of hits in the win and two RBI, Mclaughlin and Howg had a hit and an RBI each, and Reiling and Gustafson had a hit.

Next up for the Spurs is the State Championship held in Polkson, MT. The Spurs are back on the diamond on Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. when they take on the host Mission Valley Mariners.