It was a grand slam season for the Royals

Ken Johnston
Editor

What a year!
The 16-2-1 Rainy River Legion Royals first won the Rainy River District Fastball League regular season and last Tuesday night won the crown jewel; the League Championships!
Facing the defending champs, the Emo Bulldogs, Rainy River was poised to win it all Tuesday. Having not lost a game in the playoffs they only needed one win to claim the crown whereas the Bulldogs had lost to Pinewood in the first round of the playoffs. That meant the Bulldogs had to win twice to defend the title.
In the first two innings both teams were held scoreless by tough pitching. In the top of the third Emo broke the egg and took a one nothing lead off a homerun by Milt Strachan.
In the bottom of the third Darren Davidson hit a single. That was followed by a strike out of Allan Pratt. Then Rick Tymkin stepped up to the plate and belted a double to deep center field. That scored Davidson. Guy Arpin then hit a triple that scored Rick Tymkin. The Bulldogs attempted to catch Tymkin at the plate but the catcher, Kimbi Copenace, was called for interference when he blocked the plate and Tymkin was called safe by umpire Peanut Arnould. Don Gall then hit a single to score Arpin and Rainy lead the game 3-1 before they were stopped by the Bulldogs.
RR pitcher Murray Armstrong was in top form the entire game and the fourth inning was no exception. He struck out the first batter, the second was thrown out at first and the third was out on a caught fly ball.
The Bulldogs regained their composure in the bottom of four shutting down any more Rainy offense.
In the fifth both teams were three up, three down.
Then in the sixth the Bulldogs appeared poised to tie the game. Kimbi Copenace hit a rocket over the right field fence. However it was a solo homerun. The next two batters were put out easily but then Warren Voth hit a double. But he was to be stranded as Marcel Pagee struck out.
With it 3-2, the Bulldogs were determined to prevent Rainy from getting any insurance runs. Don Gall hit a single to start things off and eventually stole second, but that would be as far as he would get. The next three batters were struck out.
With everything riding on the next at bat for the Bulldogs, Rainy quickly put two out on the board, throwing out the first batter and striking out the next one. Then Grant Swire hit a single, but it was all over after that with Don Larson hitting a fly ball to Ken Gess in the left field.
The team celebrated by spraying each other with champagne and plenty of congratulations. “I wanted to win this for the guys who have never done it,” said Gall.
That marked a perfect ending to a near perfect season. Including the playoffs Rainy River finished 22-2-1.
Congrats guys!