 | The Edmonton Prospects kicked off their 2012 season, dropping both ends of an afternoon doubleheader to the Lethbridge Bulls. The Bulls took game one by a score of 5-1 and came from seven runs down, winning 9-8. The Prospects next scheduled home game is on Friday, June 15th. | |
Edmonton - June 3, 2012 - The Edmonton Prospects opened their 2012 campaign with two straight losses on Saturday afternoon, as they came up short in their double-header against the Lethbridge Bulls.
Both games, however, were closely contested, with the Bulls first pulling away from Edmonton mid-game with a four run lead to secure a 5-1 win for the first, while leaving it late to bury the Prospects 9-8 in the second with a stunning seven run penultimate inning. While the Prospects will no doubt be disappointed with the results, particularly with the outcome of the second, there were many positives to take from a day that saw them play some good ball, as they made Telus Field their home for the season in front of 541 spectators making the most of a mild-weathered afternoon.
All that was lacking, in fact, were the wins.
As cliche as that may sound, it's true. The Prospects began well enough, as they blanked the Bulls for the first two innings before exchanging runs to prolong the stalemate in the third, with both team's number fifteens, Bretton Gouthro and Ryan Kostolofski of the Prospects, both scoring a run each.
But it was the Bulls who would finally break the deadlock for good, with Bretton Gouthro, Joey Underwood, and Zach Rhodes all touching home plate in the fifth inning, as Lethbridge surged ahead, leaving the Prospects in their dust. By the time the Bulls added another in the 6th to make it 5-1, the Prospects found themselves sitting in the dugout with a huge hole to dig themselves out of as they approached the 7th.
In other words, it was simply not to be.
Surprisingly enough, neither was the next one.
Edmonton certainly started their second game of the afternoon brightly enough. After a scoreless first inning and a quick top of the second, they would make the most of their chance to hit the scoreboard first. To the crowd's delight, they did just that. Again, and again, and again.
Seven times over, to be exact. Josh Kennedy got the Prospects started with a walk to first, and Chase Kuehi sent him to second before Bulls' pitcher Jake Hansen hit Pierce Belagustegui to load the bases. At that point, the Bulls pulled Hansen, replacing him with Brody MacDonald. The move was disastrous for the Bulls, with first Fergusson, then Ryan Kosolofski, Miles Shelton Jr, and Brandon Buffton loading the bases in turn while Kennedy, Kuehi, Belagustegui, and finally Fergusson Kosolfski, Shelton, and Buffton themselves scoring, putting the game firmly in the Prospect's control. With a seven run lead and the skies clearing to reflect the mood in the park, this was a game for the taking.
Bull's pitcher Archie Davis, who came in relief of MacDonald, finally put an end to the Prospects' run, with three quick outs and bringing a lengthy second inning to a close. The Bulls scored two runs, making it a six run lead, after the Prospects added another in the third. There seemed to be no stopping the home side in game number two.
However, the Bulls would quickly prove that things are not always as they seem. Unbelievably, Lethbridge took a page out of the Prospects playbook and used to start their comeback.They would load the bases in the top of the 6th , before steadily raking in runs, one after another and turn a six run deficit into a 9-8 lead. The collapse, zapped whatever energy Edmonton had left, being swept in their home opener.
Despite the Prospects disappointing result, the afternoon thrilled and amazed many a fan, leaving them with a good feeling on what they had just seen. It may not have been the outcome they had hoped for but it was entertaining ball at a great ballpark.
All that was lacking were the wins.
|
