The Innisfail Indians fell 9-3 to the visiting Acme Pirates May 21 during the Parkland Baseball League (PBL) team's first game of the 2014 season on its home diamond.
Right from the onset of the game, erratic pitching and silent bats characterized the Indians' effort against the 2013 PBL championship team, the Acme Pirates, who appeared to be in late-season form already.
Andrew Burston took to the mound for the first half of the game and left the game with the Pirates leading 6-2 in the fourth inning. Burston, in his rookie appearance as pitcher, struggled with accuracy while walking numerous runners contributing to the Pirates' lead.
Veteran pitcher Riley Elliot replaced the struggling hurler, finishing his evening allowing only three runs. Elliot's pitching improved as the game wore on, allowing the Indians time to catch up to the visiting team.
“We replaced Andy (Andrew) with Riley so he would not hurt his arm in the first part of the season,” said Steve Bouteiller, coach and backcatcher for the Indians. “His arm was getting sore and the season is long enough without injuries.”
The Indians appeared to have their first homer of the season as Bouteiller hit the ball deep to left field only to have the Pirates make the catch in the bottom of the fifth.
Bouteiller was not to be denied, knocking the ball out of the diamond to make the game 9-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning, running the bases on his solo home run.
The last two innings of the game were fast paced with both teams dispatching each other in quick order to finish the game before darkness overtook the diamond.
“We had a tough night,” said Bouteiller. “Acme has won the league two years running and we lost to them last year in Red Deer to take second place. This is our first real outing after only practising for a couple of weeks. So while we got some early season rust out, they were more ready to hit the field.”
The Indians' next game will be played in Red Deer on May 30 against the Red Deer Goliath Razorbacks and Eckville on June 1. Game schedules and league information can be found at the PBL website ( www.parklandbaseball.ca).
