Elks drop doubleheader to Royals

By Lethbridge Herald on June 20, 2023.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge Elks' Josh McNeil throws a pitch against the Billings Royals during American Legion action on Tuesday at Spitz Stadium.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Elks saw a 4-2 lead dissipate in the last inning, in what turned out to be a 5-4 loss to the Billings Royals in the first game of a double header during American Legion AA baseball action on Tuesday night at Spitz Stadium.

The Elks’ Josh McNeil was on the mound during that seventh inning collapse.

“You know I think I can go out and I  can do harm to do those guys against (the)the  bottom of the order,” said McNeil.

“I was confident in my ability and you know we just let this one slip a little and booted a couple of balls  we needed to win and going into the bottom of the seventh there, (we) just  couldn’t come up with what we needed to (and) couldn’t get the hits.”

McNeil thought the Elks were doing well up until the last inning as he was catcher for the first six innings.

“ (I was) behind the dish (as catcher), me and G (Garret Smith) were working (and) maxed him out,” said McNeil.

“But yeah we were working good and getting outs when we needed them.”

“Yeah I mean you know that’s (a) tough loss,” said Elks head coach Scott Oikawa.

“You know difficult things happen and you know we did have opportunities in that game  to kind of get out to a lead early. But the key is to be able to regroup after a loss like that.”

Oikawa thought Smith was excellent in the game.

“You know pitched a heck of a game,” said Oikawa.

“Unfortunately we just  couldn’t close it out for him.”

Oikawa also thought  McNeil battled.

“As with our defence as well , I mean hopefully we can just learn from it and take a little bit of hungry attitude into that seventh inning where we can close those out,” said Oikawa.

Karsen Haney hit two doubles in the games for the Elks, while Brennan McTavish and Lyle Steadman had two hits. 

The Elks lost the second game 12-2.

Matt Wright was the losing pitcher.

Both teams will battle again today at 4:30 p.m. Spitz Stadium