The Red Deer Riggers found out a little about themselves as a team during the five game Sunburst Baseball League final against Sherwood Park.
Manager Curtis Bailey said there were some games where they battled back and showed some character which was something the team had been trying to build during the regular season.
“We were down seven or eight runs and we battled back, scoring a bit more. We didn’t win but having that little bit of fight and being competitive,” he said.
That character will come in handy this weekend as the Riggers represent Alberta at the Senior AAA Baseball Canadian Championship in Chatam, New Brunswick.
Bailey says losing the league title in five games to the A’s won’t put a damper on the nationals at all.
“At first you know you feel it a bit at the time but them you realize there’s a bigger prize we’ve got to keep our eyes on,” he said, referring to the four day tournament on the east coast.
The Riggers won provincials last year and with it, the right to go to nationals this year and Bailey said it’s tough to win one year and wait until next season to go .
“This year we played decent baseball and we’ve got to use what we learned the last couple of weeks to play better baseball out in New Brunswick.”
The Riggers have added some depth to the lineup with a few players from around the league to travel with them to New Brunswick.
Sherwood Park A’s James Fischer will join the bullpen along with Ben Runyon, a 6’6” hurler with the Confederation Park Cubs who throws in the high 80’s to low 90’s, said Bailey. Jake Hansen, a pitcher with the Lethbridge Bulls will also make the trip.
Lance Romanchuk and Tom Muhlethaler, two outfielders with the A’s have also been added to allow the Riggers to keep fresh players on the field.
“It’s a short tournament.It’s four days long and you play four round robin games then you play the crossover game so it’s a lot of baseball in a short amount of time,” said Bailey. “If guys need a rest there’s enough depth to get some other guys in to fill a role for a game or maybe half a game.”
Bailey added, with a short run you want to always get the guys who are hot staying in the lineup because this tournament is one where you can’t afford to make many mistakes so the depth is a nice option to have in such a mental and physical test.
“For example on Saturday we could play three games and that’s a lot to ask of the players so having depth will help out a lot,” he said.
There’s not really a scouting report on any of the teams from across the country but Bailey says some players on the Riggers know players from other teams having played college ball or in another league with them or against them.
“But you always expect to play against quality teams and that’s what you prepare for.”
The Riggers open the tournament Thursday against Newfoundland and Labrador, then take on the host team from Chatham, New Brunswick Friday. Saturday is a busy day with a game versus B.C. followed by one with Nova Scotia and a possible quarter-final game to wrap up the day. The semi-final and championship games go Sunday.
