Spurs back in the saddle for five games

By Cole Parkinson
Taber Times

June has been a busy month for the Vauxhall Spurs as they were in game action last week. It kicked off on Wednesday when they hit the road to Medicine Hat to take on the Moose Monarchs for a single game. The Spurs saw Medicine Hat score 12 runs in the first three innings as they fell 15-5. Vauxhall notched nine hits in the game with a pair of errors on defence. 

Landon Howg, Roman Pavka, and Jacob Falkenberg had two hits each in the contest while Tanner Bullock and Mark Vulcano had one. Cayden Fehr pitched two innings where he allowed eight runs (five earned) on two hits and five walks. Sidney Pedersen pitched an inning out of the bullpen and allowed four earned on four hits. Randon Lauwen was the long man and pitched three innings, allowing no runs on three hits while striking out three batters. Falkenberg also pitched an inning with two earned runs on two hits. Berkley Emelson finished the game with an earned run on a hit and a walk. 

Looking to return to the win column this weekend, the Spurs had a pair of doubleheaders. On Saturday, the team was back in Lethbridge to take on the Miners. In the first inning, the two teams went into extra innings and Lethbridge was able to walk it off with a one-run single to take the game 5-4. The Spurs outhit the Miners 11-10 but also committed two errors. Langdyn Cummins and Howg led the way offensively as they each had three hits in game one. Eric Reiling and Ryley Jensen notched a pair of hits each while Parker McLaughlin had a single in the loss. Lauwen started the game on the mound and went five strong innings with four runs allowed (one earned) on six hits and a walk. Lauwen also punched out three batters in his appearance. Cummins pitched the final 2.1 innings allowing four hits and one earned run and he collected four strikeouts. 

After dropping game one, the Spurs hit the ground running in their second effort. Notching 20 hits to end the day, the Spurs also took home an 18-8 victory. Cummins couldn’t be stopped, going 5-6 with a double while Howg and Reiling had four hits apiece. McLaughlin and Emelson notched two hits and Pavka, Bullock, and Jensen chipped in with one each. Micah Fontaine started the game for the Spurs and went six innings with nine hits allowed, five earned runs, three walks, and two K’s. Falkenberg was the lone reliever and gave Vauxhall one inning with three earned runs on three hits, and a walk. 

Wrapping up the weekend on Sunday, Vauxhall welcomed in the Fort Macleod Royals. Both teams would go on to score plenty of runs over seven innings, but it was the Royals who were able to secure a 12-10 win. Vauxhall had six hits in the game and Vulcano led the way with two. Reiling had a double, Bullock hit a triple, and Pavka and Lauwen had a single each. Daxton Schrader started on the mound and went 4.1 innings with nine runs (seven earned) on eight hits and a walk while striking out four batters. Emelson pitched two-thirds of an inning allowing two earned runs on three hits. Pedersen tossed the final two innings, striking out two and allowing a single earned run on one walk. 

The final game of the weekend saw the Royals score early and often as they cruised to a 13-3 win. Vauxhall saw Bullock get the ball to start and the pitcher went 4.2 innings where 10 runs scored (two earned) on five hits and four walks. Bullock also struck out nine batters in his start. Falkenberg finished the game with one-third of an inning and he allowed a run on one hit. Offensively, the Spurs saw Howg hit a double and a single, Pavka had an extra-base hit, and McLaughlin, and Lauwen all had one. 

Next game action for Vauxhall comes on Sunday when they welcome in the Medicine Hat Knights for a doubleheader. First pitch goes at 1 p.m. at Jets Stadium.