RR falls apart in 6th to lose to league’s leader

Ken Johnston
Editor

Last Tuesday the top two teams in the Rainy River District Fastball League, Sight and Sound of Fort Frances and Rainy River Legion Royals did battle in Rainy River.
S & S opened the scoring in the first with a run by Leroy Wilson.
S & S pitcher Warren Voth made his first appearance since recently having surgery on his shoulder and the first three RR batters were retired quickly with one of them being struck out.
In the top of the second RR hurler Murray Armstrong allowed only one batter on base and struck out two. A throw to first netted the other out to keep S & S from scoring that runner.
In the bottom of the inning RR fired up their offense with a triple by Jim Chorney right away. Murray Armstrong then earned an RBI with a single. His brother, Marty, then advanced him. Marty would later score as would Walter Wagner. Rainy now lead 4-1.
In the third a lone homer by Leroy Wilson put S & S within two of Rainy. Rainy was scoreless but had three batters stranded.
In the fourth S & S scored two to tie the game and RR was put out 1, 2, 3.
In the top of the fifth S & S threatened to score but was shut down with runners at first and third.
Rainy scored one to take the lead and had two runners stranded. It was now 5-4.
Then in the top of the sixth Rainy fell apart. A throw by catcher Don Gall to second was missed. The ball went out to center field and S & S gave the signal for the runners to keep going. In the mean time Gall threw his glove away, apparently frustrated by the play at second. That left him with no glove to protect home and S & S scored 3. S & S scored two more, one of which was a homerun and now lead 9-5.
Rainy was unable to recover in the bottom of the sixth or seventh, despite shutting down S & S quickly in the top of the 7th. Final score was 9-5 with S & S remaining unbeaten this season.
The next game for RR is tonight with Big Island visiting.
June 17
Sight and Sound 9 - Rainy River 5 WP Warren Voth LP Murray Armstrong HR
Duane Carlson,Grant Swire(SS)
Stratton 5 - Rainy Lake 1 WP Curtis Berg LP Percy Legarde HR Colin Heyens
(ST) Sheldon Kelly (RL)

June 19
Sight and Sound Forfeit win over Big Grassy
Rainy River 3 - Rainy Lake 2 WP Murray Armstrong LP Sheldon Kelly
Barwick 13 - Stratton 0 WP George Oltsher LP Curtis Berg HR Kevin Gemmell 2
(BW)
Pinewood 6 - Big Island 4

Standings W L T
Sight & Sound 12 0 0
Rainy River 6 2 0
Pinewood 6 2 0
Barwick 4 7 0
Rainy Lake 3 6 1
Stratton 3 7 0
Big Island 2 7 1
Big Grassy 2 7* 0

*forfeit game vs Sight & Sound
Home Run Leaders
Duane Carlson (SS) 5
Kevin Gemmell (BW) 5
Ed Vold (SS) 4
Don Copenace (SS) 4
4 tied with 3