The crack of the bat is back.
All three local senior ball teams were in action – the Virden Oilers, Elkhorn Expos, and Reston Rockets. It was the first time that the Expos were back on the diamond since 2020.
“It’s been good playing ball in Elkhorn again,” said Expos Brady Frattinger, who played last season for Reston. “I’ve enjoyed being on a team with some of the guys that I grew up with, as well as some guys that played here in previous years. Happy to have a team back in town and I’m looking forward to a good summer of ball.”
Virden Oilers
The Oilers opened the season with a 9-0 victory over the Expos in Elkhorn. Keifer Johnston led Virden with two runs batted in. The Oilers had seven hits. They scored two runs in the third, four in the fifth, and three in the sixth.
“It was our first live at bats of the year, so it took a couple times through the order until we started squaring balls up,” Johnston said. “A few hits from everyone throughout the lineup allowed us to put up a couple big innings.”
Erik Sigurdson struck out six and allowed just one hit in six innings of work for Virden. Jace Freeman gave up one hit in an inning of relief duty.
“Erik had an excellent first start for us. He was consistently ahead in counts and threw six stress free innings,” Johnston said. “Jace had a good first outing of the year. Coming in and getting some guys to roll over on balls and throwing hard.”
The Oilers fell Monday in their home opener to Oak River. They are on the road Friday to play in Boissevain and compete in Hamiota on Sunday.
Elkhorn Expos
The Expos opened the campaign in an offence-filled 16-10 loss to Hamiota at home on May 24. Frattinger went deep once, drove in three runs and stole two bases.
In the loss to Virden, Foxx McColl allowed four hits in five innings. Tyler Wood gave up three hits in an inning on the mound.
The Expos, who opened the season with three home games, with a game scheduled for Tuesday May 30, however Tuesday's game with Deloraine at Elkhorn was rained out after the top of the first inning. The game will pick up from that spot. No make-up date has been set as of yet.
Elkhorn plays in Hamiota on Friday and Wawanesa Sunday.
Reston Rockets
In Reston on May 24, the Rockets’ contest against Oak River was tied at 0-0 until the fifth inning. The Dodgers pushed a run across in that inning and the next two on their way to a 3-0 win. On the mound, John Patmore struck out 15 while allowing five hits over seven innings for Reston.
On May 26, the Reston team fell 10-2 to Deloriane at home. Patmore and Tyson Roblin each drove in a run for the Rockets. Jack Kirkup stole two bases.
The Rockets hosted the Rivers Comets Wednesday. The Comets came up with the win, 5-3 over the Rockets The Rockets play June 7 when the Expos visit.
