The game last night between the Weyburn Beavers and the Swift Current 57s had the potential to see some record-breaking moments. The two teams combined for 31 runs – the 2nd most runs scored in a WCBL game at Tom Laing Park, and the 4th most in the league this season – as the Beavers outlasted the visitors for a 17-14 victory. Weyburn’s Ryan Dauphinee also entered the game two hits from setting a new franchise record for career hits.
“That’s back-to-back nights, wild ones, but the offence has really kind of woken up here, and the hitters have done a fantastic job having really good at-bats,” said Beavers head coach Cam Williams after the game, referencing Wednesday’s 14-11 victory in Regina. “It’s not always about driving in runs; it’s what you do before that, right?”
The game wouldn’t see the first scoreless inning until the 5th inning, with only three innings all game not seeing any runs scored. Both teams would bat around the order, or get close to it, twice, as the pitching staffs combined to throw 402 pitches. That worked out to an average of five pitches per batter. The high-scoring affair would also go just over three hours of play, starting at 7:06 p.m., with the last out recorded at 10:16 p.m.
Despite the high score and the high pitch count, there were some notable performances on the mound in the game. Weyburn’s Sutter Balog, making his first-ever WCBL start, would only last two innings, getting roughed up for six runs in the second inning, but of the six outs recorded in those two innings, five were strikeouts. Then, Devin Costa, who picked up the save in the win, would strike out two batters in the ninth inning, getting all three outs on 15 pitches.
Joe Hart got the win on the mound for the Beavers, pitching two innings. He would allow five runs over those two innings, but the Beavers would also regain the lead and hold on for him to get the win. Brett Paterson threw for two innings, allowing five hits and three runs, with Wyatt Rogi tossing two as well in his Beavers debut. He struck out two and allowed one hit in two scoreless innings.
At the plate, the Beavers combined for 18 hits, and just seven strikeouts. All eyes were on Dauphinee as he was looking to set the team record. He would get a hit in his first at-bat in the first inning but would finish the night going 1-for-4 with two walks. This means he will likely be setting the record on the road as the Beavers have three road games over the weekend, ahead of Monday’s season finale at Tom Laing Park.
Brayden Mayencourt, Halen Otte, and Ian Heck would have three hits each in the game. Heck and Mayencourt would have two doubles, with Ryan Muizelaar, Otte, and River Smith also picking up doubles. Smith would drive in three runs, giving him eight RBIs in two games, while Mayencourt also pushed three runs across the plate. Muizelaar, Otte, Heck and Easton Mould all drove in three RBIs, with Rob Gurney finishing with an RBI as well.
“I think there’s been like three or four guys having three or four hit nights, and there’s some guys that maybe were struggling a little bit going into it, and so it’s really good to see them kind of breakthrough and trust their process, and stick with the process,” Williams added.
The Beavers will now head to Moose Jaw for games tonight and tomorrow, and then Regina on Sunday for a game against the Red Sox. The Beavers will be back at Tom Laing Park on Monday, a place where the Beavers have been playing well as of late, winning four straight at home.
“Our crowds have been great the last couple weeks here, and the guys really feed off it,” Williams said, noting it would be huge for the players if there was a big crowd to close out the season. “They’re looking out there, and seeing how many people are coming out to support them, and it’s a testament to all the hard work they do in the community, and also the product on the field, especially recently, we’ve been playing quite well.”
The game on Monday will start at 7:05 p.m. at Tom Laing Park.