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The Weyburn Beavers capped off their homestand in dramatic fashion Friday night, taking down the Sylvan Lake Gulls 10-4 at Tom Laing Park in front of a lively home crowd.
After falling to the Gulls by a score of 7-1 the night before, the Beavers responded with energy and determination, something head coach Cam Williams was proud to see.
“Yeah, I think the guys really showed up to play,” said Williams. “It was a tough night last night… I think we responded really well and had a lot of energy and a good kind of bulldog attitude.”
The Beavers offense came alive early, putting up runs in each of the first six innings. The long ball played a big role, with home runs coming from Ian Heck, Ryan Dauphinee, Trevor Dale, and Chett McDaniel, the latter’s first of the season.
“Oh, it felt great,” McDaniel said after the game. “It was (an) inside pitch, just turned on it. Knew as soon as it came off the bat.”
McDaniel finished the night 3-for-3 with a walk, a double, and two RBIs. Dale's home run was a two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth, while Heck's started off the scoring for Weyburn in the 1st inning. Heck also added another RBI in the 8th.
Alex Alva added three hits and two RBIs, helping to power a 13-hit performance from the Beavers.
On the mound, Dylan Parton got the start in his first home appearance and delivered 4 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs while striking out six. Logan Kinter came on in relief and was lights out, tossing 4 2/3 no-hit innings with nine strikeouts to earn the win. Kinter also came close to pitching an immaculate inning in the 9th, as he threw 10 pitches, with the only flaw being a ball on his first pitch to the third batter of the inning.
“It felt amazing,” said Parton about pitching at home. “This team, with these coaches, with people behind us in Weyburn, it was just electric. I loved every second of it.”
The Gulls scored all four of their runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by a two-run double from catcher Cam Macleod, but Weyburn’s bats kept the momentum firmly in their corner.
The victory allowed the Beavers to split the two-game series against Sylvan Lake and go .500 on the homestand, a respectable showing against a pair of tough Alberta opponents as Weyburn also split their games against the Energy City Cactus Rats earlier in the week.
“There were ups and downs,” added Williams. “Game one maybe didn’t play so well. I think they responded really well in game two… if you respond really well after a tough night, you’re gonna be really good in this league.”
Next up for the Beavers is a home-and-home set against the Swift Current 57’s, a team Weyburn has yet to face this season.
“They’ve been playing a little bit better the last week and a half,” noted Williams. “They do have a couple of tough arms I’m sure we’re gonna see. It should be two big games to get back in the playoff hunt.”