By Roger White

Beavers take round one in the Battle of the ‘Fords

Jun 16, 2017 | 10:38 AM

Blair Geering’s bases loaded triple in the top of the sixth was all the offence Kyle Palmer needed, as the veteran right-hander threw a complete game to lift the North Battleford Beavers over the Battleford Trappers 7-2 in Senior Baseball League action at the Ken Nelson Field on Thursday night.

A crowd of over 100 fans witnessed a terrific pitching duel between Palmer and Mike Ross of the Trappers. Palmer (3-1) allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings while striking out four.

“I felt good out there tonight,” Palmer said following the win. “Normally it takes me an inning or two to get in the groove, but not tonight. I was hitting the strike zone with consistency and it was nice to give the bullpen a night off.”

His counterpart Mike Ross looked unhittable for the first three innings, striking out six of the first 10 batters he faced including four in a row.  

“It was a fun game not only for us on the field but for the fans as well,” said Ross (1-2) who took the loss giving up four runs in five and two-thirds innings while striking out seven Beavers. He also walked three batters and hit two batters before being lifted in the fifth. “I hurt my hamstring on Tuesday night but I felt strong early on.That is an excellent team (Beavers) and they will capitalize on any mistakes you make around the plate.”

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North Battleford improved to 5-2-1 to maintain a three and a half game lead in the Albers Division over the Meadow Lake Sox while the Trappers (2-6) saw their losing streak extend to six games.

The Trappers opened the scoring in the fourth inning when Mason Carriere singled and then stole second base to move into scoring position. Braydon Buziak picked up the RBI with a single into right field to make it 1-0.

The Beavers tied the game in the top of the fifth when Brad Eischen scored on a Brennan Lampitt sacrifice to the first base side allowing the right hander to easily score from third.

The game remained tied until the sixth when Blair Geering cashed in Ryan Shepard (singled), Jared Inkster (walk) and Kyle Palmer (walk) with a bases clearing triple to make it 4-1. Mike Ross would face one more batter in the inning before being replaced by Tyrus Thompson.

The Trappers cut the deficit to two runs after Mason Carriere singled, driving in shortstop Gavin Nolin from second base to make it 4-2.

The Beavers put the game out of reach in the seventh with another three run inning. After Bryce Gatzke singled and Ryan Shepard reached on a throwing error by Gavin Nolin, Jared Inkster got all of a Thompson fastball and drove it over the centre field fence to make it 7-2.

“He (Tyrus Thompson) missed on three straight curve balls so I knew a fastball was coming,” said Inkster who now has six RBI’s this season after only driving in two runs all of 2016. “It was a sweet swing and I knew I got all of it.”

The two teams will face each other Tuesday night at the Ken Nelson Field with the first pitch scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordNOW