Spurs play in Ruth Bizarro-Cook Memorial tournament

By Cole Parkinson
Vauxhall Advance

This past weekend saw the Vauxhall Spurs take off for the Ruth Bizarro-Cook Memorial tournament. First up was a game against the Bitterroot Red Sox on Friday. Despite outhitting the Red Sox 11-7, Vauxhall would fall 10-5. Randon Lauwen had four hits, Roman Pavka hit two doubles and a single, Langdyn Cummins had a pair of hits, and Roan Bosch and Sidney Pedersen both hit a single. Tanner Bullock started on the mound and went 4.2 innings with two strikeouts. The Red Sox would score 10 runs on Bullock (six earned) on seven hits and three walks. Pedersen finished the game off with an inning and one-third, where he struck out three batters.

The Spurs returned to the diamond on Saturday morning to take on the Laurel Dodgers. In a high-scoring affair, both teams would plate plenty of runs over seven innings. The Dodgers would edge out the Spurs 12-11 with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Cummins and Pedersen had two hits, Parker McLaughlin hit a double, and Pavka, Bullock, and Cayden Fehr each had a hit in the loss. Randon Lauwen took the ball to start and went 2.1 innings with three strikeouts. Six runs scored (four earned) on seven hits and three walks. Mark Vulcano was the first reliever called into the game, and the pitcher went 3.2 innings. He had two strikeouts in his appearance while allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and a pair of walks. McLaughlin collected the final out but gave up three runs (two earned) on two hits.

Later on Saturday, the Spurs were back in action to take on the Butte Miners. A big five-run sixth inning propelled the Spurs to an 11-5 win. Ryley Jensen had three hits, including a double; Cummins and Pedersen had two hits each, and McLaughlin, Bosch, and Vulcano all had a hit. Micah Fontaine pitched four solid innings with one earned run allowed on three hits, and he had two strikeouts. Bosch pitched 2.2 innings with two strikeouts. Four runs scored (one earned) on three hits and three walks. Jensen finished the game off by collecting the final out.

Rounding out the tournament on Sunday, the Spurs took on the Belgrade Bandits. The Spurs struggled to get any offence going as they fell 10-0 in four innings. McLaughlin had a double and a single, Ty Dorin hit a double, and Jensen and Lauwen each had a single. Fehr started on the mound and went 2.1 innings with five runs (four earned) on eight walks and three hits. Fehr would collect one strikeout in his appearance. Pedersen collected two outs and allowed two earned runs on two hits. McLaughlin collected the final two outs and allowed three earned runs on two hits and two walks. He also had one strikeout.

The Spurs now return to regular season play as they spring to the finish. On Wednesday, they were on the road to take on the Great Falls Chargers for a doubleheader. Thursday is a doubleheader at home against the Tri-County Cardinals. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. Sunday sees the end of the regular season with a doubleheader at home against the Fort Macleod Royals. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.