The SaskFive AAA 18U Marlins took three of four games over the weekend to bring their record to 3-3 in the young Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League season.
After losing a pair of road games in Swift Current to start the season, the return to the confines of Mocon Field in Martensville was the ticket to turning the season around.
Game one of the Saturday, May 11 double-header against the Regina Wolfpack was their only loss in the weekend home stand when the visitors came away with a 11-7 win.
Game two was a thriller, with the home squad winning in dramatic walk-off fashion.
The Marlins opened the scoring in the first inning on a Rhett Anderson double that brought home Josh Gutek.
Regina took the lead, scoring four runs in the top of the third inning. The Marlins did one better, scoring five runs in their half of the inning. Lukas Viden’s double brought home Josh Gutek and Ben Hosegood. Joshua Kirk’s single brought Viden home. Kirk then stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. Dayton Lundstrom drew a walk. With runners on first and third Braden Toth hit a fly ball to right field. An error by the right fielder allowed both Kirk and Lundstrom to score.
Regina would take another lead, scoring three runs in the fourth inning. Again the Marlins had a response, manufacturing a pair of runs with some aggressive base running. Houston Koch singled and Josh Gutek reached base on a walk. Koch advanced to third after tagging up on a Ben Hosegood flyout to right field. Gutek stole second base. Koch scored and Gutek advanced to third on a passed ball. Gutek then scored on another passed ball.
Regina again took the lead with two runs in the sixth. The Marlins tied it in the bottom of the sixth on a Dayton Lundstrom single that brought Ben Hosegood home.
This set up the seventh inning heroics with Kash Berg getting on base with a hard ground ball to center field, followed by a Houston Koch triple to deep right field to drive in the walk-off winning run.
The team carried that momentum into their double header with the Parkland Expos on Sunday, May 12.
In game one Ben Hosegood pitched a complete game gem, allowing only five hits while striking out seven batters and allowing no bases on balls. The Marlins’ bats were hot, with seven players getting hits. Lukas Viden and Rhett Anderson led the way with two hits each. Houston Koch had three runs batted in to lead the team in the 12-1 win.
Game two was a 5-0 win for the home team. Starting pitcher Axel Flodell pitched two innings, striking out two batters and walking none. Reliever Braden Toth pitched five innings, striking out five batters and walking none. Josh Gutek and Hayden Connor each had two hits. Connor led the team with two runs batted in.
The Marlins’ next game is in Martensville against the Z7 Sun Devils on Wednesday, May 15.