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(Shauna Giesbrecht)
Simply The Best

Red Deer U15 AAA Ernco Braves win provincial baseball championship

Aug 24, 2021 | 11:22 AM

Red Deer’s U15 AAA Ernco Braves are provincial champions.

The minor baseball team earned Gold in Okotoks, AB on Sunday.

The Braves went 4-1 over the weekend, edging out the top-rated Calgary Bucks Black in the semi-finals by a score of 3-2, then finishing-off the favoured Okotoks Dawgs Black by a score of 8-5.

The Braves finish the season with an impressive league-play record of 31-4 with no ties.

Friday Game One:

Five runs in the fifth inning led the Braves past Okotoks Dawgs Red on Friday. Braves offense in the inning was led by Nathan Flewelling and Wyatt McKeen, who all drove in runs.

Flewelling led the Braves to victory on the mound. The right-hander lasted seven innings, allowing five hits and one run while striking out eight and walking one.

Luke Schmitt went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead the Braves in hits.

Saturday Game Two:

Noah Nakonechny shut down 2021 Calgary Cardinals 15U AAA , throwing a complete game shutout and leading the Braves to an 11-0 victory.

The Braves got things started in the first inning when Addison Giesbrecht grounded out, scoring one run.

The team secured the victory, however, thanks to eight runs in the seventh inning. Big bats in the inning were led by singles from Avery Coumont, Brett Belich, Nakonechny, and Brett Hall, also a groundout by Evan Russell, and a fielder’s choice by Hall.

Nakonechny was credited with the victory for the Braves. The pitcher surrendered zero runs on one hit over seven innings, striking out 13.

Saturday Game Three:

The Braves fell behind early and couldn’t come back in an 8-0 loss to Okotoks Dawgs 15U Black on Saturday.

The Braves struggled to contain the high-powered offense of Okotoks, giving up eight runs.

A double by Jake Brooks in the first inning was a positive for the Braves.

Evan Russell led things off on the pitcher’s mound for Red Deer. The right-hander surrendered seven runs on seven hits over one inning, walking one. Wyatt McKeen, Avery Coumont, and Addison Giesbrecht each contributed in relief for the Braves.

Nathan Flewelling went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the team in hits.

Sunday Game Four:

Both teams were strong on the hill Sunday, but the Braves defeated Calgary Bucks 15U AAA Black 3-2.

Braves pitchers allowed just two hits to Calgary Black. Red Deer got things moving in the second inning, when Avery Coumont singled on a 1-2 count, scoring one run.

Jake Brooks took the win for the Braves. The righty surrendered two runs on two hits over six and a third innings, striking out 12. Luke Schmitt threw two-thirds of an inning in relief out of the bullpen. Schmitt recorded the last two outs to earn the save for Red Deer.

Noah Nakonechny led the Braves with two hits in three at-bats.

Sunday Final Game Five:

The Braves managed through a push by Okotoks Dawgs 15U Black in the sixth inning when the team coughed up three runs, but still won 8-5 on Sunday.

In the first inning, Okotoks got their offense started by homering on a 3-1 count, scoring two runs.

The Braves pulled away for good, however, with three runs in the third inning. In the third, Jake Brooks doubled on a 0-2 count, scoring one run, while Nathan Flewelling doubled on a 2-2 count, scoring one run. Brett Belich also grounded out, scoring one run.

Red Deer then tallied four runs in the sixth inning. The offensive onslaught was led by Brooks and Flewelling, all sending runners across the plate with RBIs in the inning.

Luke Schmitt was credited with the victory for Red Deer. The right-hander surrendered five runs on seven hits over five and a third innings, striking out three and walking one. Wyatt McKeen threw one and two-thirds innings in relief out of the bullpen. McKeen recorded the last five outs to earn the save for the Braves.

The Braves collected 15 hits during the game. Noah Nakonechny, Flewelling, Brooks, McKeen, and Brett Hall each collected multiple hits for the team. Flewelling and Nakonechny each collected three hits to lead Red Deer.

Okotoks totaled eight hits in the game.