Regina Red Sox force Game 3 with impressive ninth inning rally

The Regina Red Sox forced a winner-take-all Game 3 for the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) championship on Friday in dramatic fashion, defeating Sylvan Lake Gulls 10-7 with an exciting ninth inning rally.

The Gulls went into the top of the ninth with a 6-4 lead, only three outs away from winning their first championship, but the Regina Red Sox were having none of it, storming back to score six times.

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After winning in 11 innings in Game 1, Sylvan Lake stormed out of the gate, scoring five runs in the first three innings off Regina starter Landon Riley in light rainy conditions at the Alberta club’s diamond.

The Sox — looking for their first league title since 2012 — found themselves down to their last out with a man on second with Sylvan Lake closer Mickey McClaskey on the mound, but Justin Simard beat out an infield single that allowed both Sam Baker and Jory Graves to cross home plate to tie the game.

Jordan Tucker then drew a walk, with a Rafael Jackson single that was misplayed by the Gulls bringing both Simard and Tucker home to give Regina the lead.

A home run from Zayd Brannigan, who went five for six at the plate and had 3 RBIs in the game, increased that lead to four despite the Gulls loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth.

Rafael Jackson was also a big contributor to the Sox win, getting four hits, two runs and an RBI from his six at-bats.

Red Sox president Gary Brotzel was more than pleased with the team’s performance.

“We’re down six-four in the ninth inning… and literally stole that game out of the clutches last night,” he told CJME News on Saturday. “Our shortstop Matt Fox, put on a clinic — making plays you’d see in a major league game. For a sophomore college player, that’s pretty special.

“We lost 14 players around July, including our whole starting rotation… but we brought in new guys and they’ve been playing hard for each other. I’m very happy with the way we’re competing in the playoffs.”

“Social media’s been blowing up all week. I think the city’s really bought into the Red Sox excitement … I’m quite confident we’ve gained many, many new fans,” Brotzel said.

“Quite honestly, I think the guys are used to it now… we’ve had some great games early in the playoffs, obviously upset Saskatoon, and those were three great games. Game One against Sylvan Lake was as good a ball game as you’ll ever see.”

Game 3 is Saturday night in Sylvan Lake starting at 7 p.m.

— with files from Erin Sinclair, Central Alberta Online , Mitchell Blair, Regina Red Sox and Jacob Banhour, 980 CJME.

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