Bulls double up the 57’s

By Lethbridge Herald on June 28, 2024.

Herald photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge Bulls Kalem Haney successfully steals second base standing up before Demetrio Archuleta of the Swift Current 57Õs could turn around applies a tag during Western Canadian Baseball League action at Spitz Stadium on Friday night.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Bulls earned their 17^th win of the season after doubling up the Swift Current 57’s 6-3 on Friday night at Spitz Stadium.

“I talked to the guys after the game. I obviously wasn’t very happy,” said Ryan MacDonald, Bulls head coach.

“To be frank, I thought it  was a pretty shitty game. We came out really flat and our hitting approach was different than what it’s been all year, a lot of lazy fly balls, and weren’t finding ways to cash guys when we needed to, and getting guys over and getting guys in and we completely changed our approach. And then Kaby (Josh Kabayama) kind of had a big hit at a good time… and kind of just got us out to a good lead.”

Josh Kabayama led the way for the Bulls at the plate, going 3-for-5 on the night, while stealing a base and batting in four RBIs and scoring two runs.

“Kaby’s not a home run guy by any means but found a way to run into one and he’s more of a doubles (and) triples guy, which you saw in the seventh inning when he absolutely banged that one the other way,” said MacDonald.

“I haven’t seen a better centre fielder in the league than Josh and he’s been solid for us all year.”

The 57’s got on the board first when Jose Ayala hit a two-out home run over the right field fence off of Javier De Alejandro in the second inning.

Josh Kabayama replied for the Bulls in the fourth inning with a home run of his own over the scoreboard in left field to tie the game 1-1.

The Bulls pulled ahead  2-1 in the fifth inning when Kalem Haney hit a sacrifice fly to score Noah McNeil.

Kabayama hit an RBI triple in the seventh to score Tyler Monroe and Kalem Haney to make it 4-1 Bulls.

Scott Hansen came up after Kabayama and cashed him in with an RBI single to increase the Bulls lead to 5–1.

Kabayama continued his productive night when he hit an infield single to score Kyle Yip.

Swift Current got two runs back in the ninth inning.

Brody Alexandre scored on fielder’s choice and Demetrio Archuleta crossed the plate on a ground out.

De Alejandro took the win on the hill for the Bulls after going six innings and allowing the single run on three hits and striking out five batters.

The Bulls (17-10) and 57’s play again tonight at 7:05 p.m. at Spitz Stadium.