Rainy clobbers Big Island

Ken Johnston
Editor

Rainy River Legion Royals dealt a crushing blow to Big Island’s pride last Thursday in fastball action.
The game started with ominous rain clouds looming over the diamond. With the threat of rain it was thought that maybe Big Island was not coming. However they did show up, ten minutes late.
The late arrival cost them a run and the first inning. The game started at the top of the second with RR leading 1-0.
RR’s top gun, Murray Armstrong, made quick work of the first three B.I. players. Then RR took the bats to B.I. Ken Guess was walked and Don Gall hit a single to follow him up. However that saw Gess thrown out at second. Guy Arpin then hit a single to put Gall in scoring position. Rick Tymkin then earned himself an R.B.I. with a double. Murray Armstrong also hit a double and scored Tymkin. Gall was thrown out earlier at third. The inning ended with Brent Anderson being thrown out at first and RR was ahead 3-0.
Murray Armstrong again made quick work of B.I. It was three up, three down.
B.I.’s defense played better in the bottom of the third allowing only one run to score. It was 4-0 after three.
Murray Armstrong only faced four batters in the top of the fourth but no runs were allowed. The only player to make it on base was 10 year old Regan Arnould who made B.I.’s full complement of nine players. He made a double but was stranded on base when the next player went out.
Guy Arpin started things off for RR with a triple in the bottom of the fourth. He was followed by Rick Tymkin who pounded a double. Then Murray Armstrong hit a home run to empty the bases. Darren Davidson then hit a triple and was hit in by Matt Ashworth. RR lead 8-0.
In the fifth B.I. sent four batters to the plate and only one of them made it on base and he was stranded.
In the bottom of the fifth RR exploded scoring ten runs. Everyone scored and Murray Armstrong hit another home run.
In the top of the sixth B.I. was gone three in a row. RR scored another six runs with Murray Armstrong hitting his third home run of the game. Walter Wagner picked up 2 R.B.I.s on a single. RR lead 24-0.
In the top of the seventh Regan Arnould again made it on base, hitting a single. But that would be the extent of B.I.’s offense wit#h three players after Arnould going out, two of them on strike outs from relief pitcher Guy Arpin.
Rainy River is now 12-1 with about two thirds of the season gone. Over the weekend they won the “B” event at the Barwick fastball tournament. Rainy River will be at Manitou tonight to play Hyatt’s Construction and Big Grassy will be visiting Rainy River on Thursday.
In other action last week Hyatt’s Construction defeated the Emo Bulldogs 6-5 Tuesday. Don Copenace and Warren Voth each hit a home run.
Sight and Sound from Fort Frances defeated Big Grassy on their home field 8-4 Tuesday.
Rainy River hammered Stratton 16-1 in Stratton. Marty Armstrong hit the only homer of the game.
No results were sent in for the rest of Thursday’s games.