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Bandits struggle at the plate against Bitterroot

Red Sox prove to be a tough team for Bandits' double-header on Sunday at Confederation Park.
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Tyler Thorn of the Cranbrook Bandits makes a big double to second base during a game against the Bitterroot Red Sox on Sunday at Confederation Park.

In both games, it was a case of too little, too late.

The Cranbrook Bandits struggled on the plate this weekend against the Bitterroot Red Sox, losing twice at scores of 5-2 and 8-1 on Sunday afternoon.

The Bandits were supposed to play the Whitefish Glacier 'B' team on Saturday for a double-header, but their opponents had to cancel due to lack of players.

However, the Red Sox proved to be a tough team for their double-header on Sunday at Confederation Park.

"The first game, we strung three hits together in the last inning and scored two runs, but other than that, it was a hit here, a hit there, and we never got a string of hits," said Bandits head coach Paul Mrazek.

"Hitting the ball in the air, we weren't hitting the ball on the ground. Everything was routine, so the bats were flat.

"Then you got a couple of errors and they score some runs, but if we're not stringing a couple hits together..."

The Red Sox opened the game with a run in the first inning, and added to their lead with another in the third. They scored twice in the fourth and came home again in the sixth for a five run lead.

The Bandits got their bats going in the final inning, with Tyler Thorn doubling to second base and Jake Bromley hitting a single before Ryotaro Yukawa brought them home, but it wasn't enough to mount a comeback.

Devon Marra pitched the majority of the game, with Kei Chlopan coming in for relief for the final two innings. Marra threw two strikeouts and walked three, while Chlopan came in later in the game and only gave up one run.

In the subsequent rematch, the Red Sox went up early with a 5-0 lead after three innings. Bitterroot scored again in three more to build an insurmountable lead.

The Bandits were able to respond by scoring once in the sixth, with Marra hitting an RBI single to bring Chlopan home.

"We didn't concentrate well," said Yukawa, who plays right field and is a first-year player on the team. "We didn't hit very well. We were, yesterday at practice, but not today."



Trevor Crawley

About the Author: Trevor Crawley

Trevor Crawley has been a reporter with the Cranbrook Townsman and Black Press in various roles since 2011.
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