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Riggers win national bronze medal

Aug 28, 2017 | 1:20 PM

It wasn’t the medal they were ultimately hoping for, but the Red Deer Riggers aren’t coming home empty-handed.

After a tough loss in the semi-finals, the Riggers rebounded to beat provincial rival Sherwood Park 9-8 in Sunday’s bronze medal game at the 2017 Baseball Canada Men’s National Championship in Victoria, B.C.

JP Willner earned the game winning RBI by earning a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh inning. Kerry Boon had a great game at the plate, going 3-for-3.

Steven Latos was the starting pitcher, giving up eight earned runs over 5 1/3 innings. Drew Boyer came on to throw 1 2/3 scoreless innings and earn the win.

Earlier Sunday, the Riggers fell 7-1 to Team B.C. in extra innings in semifinals action. The game was tied 1-1 through six innings before B.C. ignited for six runs in the top of the ninth.

B.C. won the gold medal with a 5-3 win in the final over New Brunswick.

The Riggers will get another shot at  winning gold next year. They have clinched a spot at 2018 nationals by winning this year’s provincial title.