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Friday, June 6, 2025

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The three local South West Baseball League teams hit the road last week.

“Road trips are team builders,” Rivers Comets player Scott Beever said. “We get all the guys on the bus, everyone's together and fired up and ready to go. It's a good time, going on the road and trying to beat a team in their own park.”

The Comets visited Brandon and Souris last week. Brandon is new to the SWBL with Rivers’ foe, the GW Vacuum Truck Service Young Guns, and the RFNow Cardinals joining the league this season from Brandon’s Andrew Agencies Senior AA Baseball League. SWBL teams are back travelling to Souris after the Cardinals took a four-year leave of absence.

The Oak River Dodgers participated in a “double header” setup that is common in the SWBL. On June 1, they played in Deloraine at 2 p.m. At 6 p.m. that day, the Dodgers were in Souris to play the Cardinals.

The Hamiota Red Sox also had a two games in one day road trip. They are the league’s road warriors early on this season. The team plays its first five games away from home. The Red Sox’s Brady Waddell said that is just the way things worked out with the schedule.

Rivers Comets

After falling in its opening game of the season, 10-9, to the Oak River Dodgers, Mike McFadden said the Comers had “some rust to shake off but that’s just game one of many more. Lots of positives to carry over and we’re only going to be gaining confidence as we push forward.”

In its second contest of the campaign, Rivers came through with a one-run victory. It used a seven-run seventh inning to top the Young Guns, 13-12, on May 27. The Comets had fallen behind early. They had trailed 7-0 after the first inning and were behind 12-6 going into the seventh and final inning. Throwing in relief of Comets starter Owen Wareham, Mike McFadden threw 4.66 innings. He allowed three runs on four hits to earn the win. Fred Hrycak got the save as he pitched a scoreless seventh.

The Rivers team followed up that victory with a 6-0 shutout of the Souris Cardinals on May 30. Hrycak did not allow a run and scattered four hits in a complete game shutout effort. He struck out five. Scott Beever drove in three runs, McFadden two, and Layton Veitch one.

The Comets entered this week with a

2-1 record. They were slated to play in Reston on June 3, after the Banner deadline. The club hosts the Reston Rockets on June 6 and the defending champion Boissevain Centennials on June 8.

Oak River Dodgers

The Dodgers won twice on the road on June 1 to improve their record to 4-0 - which put them on top of the SWBL’s North Division. The squad started its day by beating Deloriane 4-1. Dylan Schroeder allowed one run on three hits over seven innings. Duncan Paddock drove in three runs and Max Paddock one.

The Dodgers’ offence was firing on all cylinders when it played in Souris later that day. Oak River scored 22 runs on 25 hits and took advantage of six Cardinal errors in the 22-3 win. Ty Paddock hit three doubles and drove in five runs. Duncan Paddock, Kaden Rozdeba and Max Paddock each had three runs batted in. Max Paddock had a home run.

Chase Anderson started for Oak River. He allowed one run, which was unearned, over five innings. Duncan Paddock and Ty McKenzie each pitched an inning in relief.

The Dodgers were to host Hamiota on June 4 after the Banner deadline. The Oak River team plays in Virden on June 6. It hosts Boissevain on June 8.

Hamiota Red Sox

The Red Sox went 1-2 on the road last week. They beat Virden, 11-5, on May 30. Due to smoke from wildfires, the game was called after six innings. Colt Brooks and Mike Stevenson each drove in two runs. Waddell earned the win. The pitcher allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out five. Hayden Crampain pitched an inning in relief.

In Wawanesa, the Red Sox suffered a one-run loss, 9-8, on June 1. In the top of the seventh, the Hamiota team scored two runs to take an 8-7 lead. The Brewers responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Joel Strachan had three RBIs for Hamiota.

In their second game on June 1, the Red Sox lost 9-2 to Boissevain. Brooks struck out five.

After a June 4 game in Oak River, the Red Sox (2-2, as of Monday) will compete in their first two home contests of the campaign. They are both on the same day. On June 8, Hamiota hosts the Deloraine Royals at 2 p.m. and the Souris Cardinals at 6 p.m.

SWBL road trips are team builders

By Robin Wark