AXEMEN TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMI-FINAL VS WESTLOCK

On the back of 2014 NCABL All-Star P Paul Ofrim and with a big one out double by first year Axemen Braedon Majeski, the Axemen were able to defeat the Westlock Red Lions 2-1 in game one of their semi-final series at Keller Field tonight. It is the the third year in row that the Axemen have defeated the Red Lions in game one. In 2012 it was game one of the NCABL Championship Series that went to the Axemen and last season a game one victory in their semi-finals series. Both times the Red Lions would battle back and win back to back games to defeat the Axemen 2-1 in the series. The Axemen are hoping that a good start in 2014 combined with a deeper pitching staff will give them their first series win versus the Red Lions in three tries.

Win - Paul Ofrim (4-1)

Loss - Adam Sawatzky

Save - Kyle Muzechka (3)

Opposing Ofrim would be longtime Red Lions ace Adam Sawatzky. Sawatzky would have a tremendous 2014 campaign for the third place Red Lions as he would be at the helm of the Beverley Optimist All-Star team (Red Lions were in second place as of July 10), would be the starting pitcher for the Beverley Optimist All-Stars, finish third in voting for the 2014 NCABL MVP and second in the voting for the 2014 NCABL Manager of the Year award. The Axemen have only been able to defeat the veteran pitcher once since 2008 and it came in game one of the double header back in 2013. 

But Ofrim would prove up to the challenge, taking the Red Lions head on in the prodominantly Westlock supporter filled crowd at Keller Field. The two pitchers would trade scoreless innings in the first before Red Lions 1B Stu Schroeder would collect the first hit of the game with a lead off single to start the second inning. Schroeder would stroll into second on the play as LF Kris Johnson of the Axemen would over run the ball for the games second error. Westlock SS Aaron Watamaniuk would be charged an error to start the bottom of the first inning off the bat of Axemen lead off hitter CF Cal Zimmer. Ofrim would hit RF Sean Beaudoin to put runners at first and second before getting LF Ryan Teske to pop up in the infield for out number one. The inning would end on a 4-6-3 double play turned by the tandem of 2B Ryan Petryshyn and SS Chance Wheatley to end the Red Lions threat. 

The Axemen offence would carry the momentum into the bottom of the second inning when C John Kelndorfer and P Paul Ofrim would hit back to back singles to lead off the inning. 1B Joe Pasychnyk would hit a towering fly ball into right field on the first pitch from Sawatzky that he would see to give the Axemen one out. First year Axemen RF Braedon Majeski would drive a ball into the right centre gap over the heads of RF Sean Beaudoin and CF Nathan Brown to score Kelndorfer from second base and Ofrim all the way from first on the play. Majeski would move into third on the play on an error to 2B Jordan Brand. Sawatzky would pitch himself out of the jam as the Axemen would leave Majeski stranded at third base to end the inning, but give the Axemen a 2-0 lead. 

The Red Lions would threatend in the top of the third inning when after a pair of quick outs to start the inning led to back to back singles by Westlock's lead off hitter 2B Jordan Brand followed by CF Nathan Brown. Ofrim would strand the pair by getting the dangerous C TJ Oliwa to groudn out to SS Chance Wheatley to end the inning. 

In the top of the fourth, with the game 2-0 Axemen, the Red Lions would finally get to Ofrim and once again it was with two outs. 1B Stu Schroeder would hit a deep fly ball out to CF Cal Zimmer to start the inning ahead of a strikeout of RF Sean Beaudoin. A tough two out walk to LF Ryan Teske would prove costly as the Red Lions would load the bases on a 3B Nathan Swap single and the second walk of the inning given out by Ofrim to SS Aaron Watamaniuk. Number nine hitter, DH Kris Johnson would make the Axemen pay as he would he a ground ball that would force SS Chance Wheatley to over run the ball in the infield grass allowing Teske to score from third base. The unearned run would be the only offence the Red Lions would be able to muster despite stranding a total of ten runners on base. 

Manager Bryan Toles would turn to P Kyle Muzechka in the top of the seventh inning after Ofrim would show signs of fatigue allowing a one out walk to C TJ Oliwa and hitting 1B Stu Schroeder to put the tying run into scoring position. The left handed Muzechka would need only three pitches to record his third save of the season. RF Sean Beaudoin would hit a 1-1 pitch into the game ending 6-4-3 double play, the Axemen's second double play of the game. 

P Paul Ofrim would be the Axemen's player of the game pitching 6.33 innings allowing only one unearned run on six hits while striking out three on the hill while going 3 for 3 with three singles and scoring a run at the plate. RF Braedon Majeski would finish the game with the only RBIs for the Axemen on the afternoon, collecting both on a second inning double on his way to a 2 for 3 game with a double and a single. 

The two teams will now meet tomorrow afternoon at 2:00pm back at Keller Field for game two. It is expected that the Axemen will turn to P Cory Martz while Manager Bryan Toles is expecting the Red Lions to counter with P Kris Johnson, whom the Axemen have had success against in the past. The team will also get some help in the form of 1B Brett Harke who is expected to be inserted into the lineup for Sunday's game two.

Meanwhile the other series which saw the pennant winning Edmonton Blackhawks sweep the fourth place Stony Plain Mets 2-0 with scores of 1-0 and 4-0. The Blackhawks would shut out the NCABL's highest scoring team over the two game series and the Mets lost a heartbreaker in game one, a game in which they needed to win as game two would see a reduced roster due to a wedding. The lone run scored in game one was the result of a P Kyle Geinger controversial balk with a runner at third base. The sweep by the Blackhawks ensures that they 2014 NCABL Championship series will be played at Footz Field in Edmonton on August 23 and 24 against either the Camrose Axemen or the Westlock Red Lions. 

2B - Majeski (2), Wheatley (6)

TB - Ofrim (3), Majeski (3), Wheatley (2), Kelndorfer (1)

RBI - Majeski 2 (4)

CS - Wheatley (1)

Fielding E - Johnson, Wheatley, Ofrim

Groundouts-Flyouts - Ofrim (8-8), Muzechka (2-0)

Inherited Runners-Scored - Muzechka (2-0)

TB - Brand (1), Brown (1), Oliwa (1), Schroeder (1), Swap (1), Watamaniuk (1)

HBP - Beaudoin by Ofrim (4), Schroeder by Ofrim (5)

Fielding E - Watamaniuk, Brand

Groundouts-Flyouts - Sawatzky (5-10)