There is a charm to watching baseball on television rooting for your favourite team that lives oh so far away. Enter the Western Major Baseball League (WMBL). They give folks across Alberta and Saskatchewan the chance to watch baseball live. Now your couch might be comfortable but nothing beats spending time at the ballpark!
Who else thinks #theWMBL Opening Day should be a provincial holiday? #canadasleague #letsplayball pic.twitter.com/hpirFvCus9
— The WMBL (@thewmbl) May 31, 2020
On what was a rainy Thursday in the capital of Alberta, the Edmonton Prospects started the season off with a convincing 7-1 win over the Lethbridge Bulls. Along with some great baseball, the Prospects are also trying to bring you some great ballpark food options…yes, the traditional hotdog has competition.
Directional signage for new concession vendors 🍔🌭🍤🌯 #edmprospects pic.twitter.com/xhPQ4ikwle
— Ryan (@__RyanJ__) May 31, 2020
The Bulls would open the scoring in the top of the 2nd inning. With 2-on and 2-out, Liam Vulcano would hit a double fielded by centerfielder Jake Lanferman. The lead would runner would score for the visitors but Brett Semeniuk would be tagged out at home after a strong accurate relay throw by shortstop Aidan Huggins. Here’s the replay:
The Prospects would hit the scoreboard in the bottom of the 4th and they would do it in style. Anthony Cusati, who led off the bottom of the 2nd with a double, would lead off the 4th with a single. He would be joined by Nick Spillman on board then Tony Olson would bring both home with a 3-run inside-the-park home run!
The Prospects were not done scoring yet in the bottom of the 4th as Percy (Yi-Jia) Liu from Taoyuan City, Taiwan would drive home Zane Takhar from second base with a single to left field. Make it 4-1 for the home team after 4.
The score would stay that way until the two outs in the bottom of the 7th. Lanferman would triple and score on a passed ball while Cusati was at the plate. Spillman, for the third consecutive time, would reach base. Olson would collect RBI numbers 4 and 5 to bring home both Cusati and Lanferman. This would make the score 7-1 after seven innings and would become your final score.
On the mound, the Prospects did not stretch out any of their pitchers not allowing anyone to pitch more than two innings. Taran Oulton got the Opening Day and was the only Prospect pitcher to allow a run or a walk. This is not disrespect towards Oulton, this is a tip of the cap to Brenden Wiun and Jordan Smith who both pitched two innings and only allowed one baserunner each. Also a cap tip to Scott Gillespie and Michael Gahan who combined to pitch a perfect final three frames!
5 RBI man Tony Olson earns the first POTG of the season. Really was there any doubt?
Friday June 1: Okotoks Dawgs 7:05PM at RE/MAX Field
Saturday June 3: Minor Baseball Day at the Park! Okotoks Dawgs 2:05PM at RE/MAX Field