Game 3 in the best-of-three 100 Mile Men’s Fastball League playoff championship was played at Lumberman’s Park in 100 Mile House on July 10, but scores unavailable prior to press time.
The rubber match became necessary when the Shuswap Defenders knocked off the Red Rock Grill 15-7 in game 2 on July 5.
The slugfest saw the two teams combine for seven home runs, with five of them coming off the Shuswap bats.
Defender Kevin Neufeld was the winner pitcher, as he hurled a solid game and registered nine strikeouts.
Red Rock chucker Pat Findlay appeared to be tired after back-to-back games on July 4 and 5.
Shuswap’s Antoine Sargent was a one-man wrecking crew, as he pounded a home run out of the park in the first inning scoring himself and Mark Boyce who got on base with a single.
Sargent hit another moon shot in the second inning scoring three more runs, as Shuswap jumped out to 7-0 lead.
Neufeld upped the lead to 9-0 with a two-run homer in the third, and Boyce made it 10-0 when he crossed the plate in the fourth.
Red Rock finally on board with a two-run homer by Matt Ounpuu in the fifth, and they made the score respectable with five runs in the sixth.
There was some great long-ball hitting during the game with Ounpuu and Ryan Odette homering for Red Rock.
Boyce, Joseph Sandy, Sargeant and Neufeld provided homers for Shuswap.
Red Rock takes game 1
Red Rock Grill came from behind in the fast-paced, first game of the 100 Mile Men’s Fastball League playoff finals on July 4 to beat the Shuswap Defenders 6-4.
The crowd in the stands got to watch an exciting game featuring some great pitching and defensive plays, as well some timely hitting.
The game was tied twice and the lead changed three times. There were 20 hits and six of them were bunts that resulted in the batter getting on base.
Shuswap scored in its first at bat as Boyce crossed the plate on a single from Stumpy Boyce.
However, Red Rock replied in the top half of the inning with a two-run homer by Findlay who also threw for three strikeouts.
Shuswap took the lead back scoring two runs in the third, then added one more in the fourth when starting pitcher Sargent, who collected nine strikeouts, hit a solo home run putting his team up 4-2.
Red Rock battled back, knotting the score at fours, with two runs in the fifth, using their speed and well-placed bunts by Brody Borg, Kurtis Bicknell and Brad Mills. The Grillers added two more in the bottom of the sixth to go up 6-4.
Shuswap had one more crack at it in the top of the seventh, but three fly-ball outs ended the game.
