Lakers win first conference games

By Lethbridge Herald on May 28, 2025.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge Lakers Railey de Mateo catches the baseball just in time to get out Sidney Pedersen of the Vauxhall Spurs during American Legion 'A' baseball action on Wednesday evening at Lloyd Nolan Yard.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Lakers were a happy baseball team  on Wednesday evening after getting their first two American Legion ‘A’ baseball wins of conference play  over the Vauxhall Spurs on home field at Lloyd Nolan Yard.

The Lakers doubled up the Spurs 4-2 in the first game before coming back from three runs down to win the second game 7-3.

“It feels great,” said Lucas Puszkar, Lakers head coach.

“We’ve been building up and it’s all come to this and I’m very proud of them.”

Puszkar credited both of the starting pitchers of  Jarren Beck and Declan Brinsmead for their success.

“They  both went six and seven innings (respectively), (I) can’t ask for anymore than that,” said Puszkar.

“They have been outstanding this year.”

The Lakers bench was engaged in both games.

“ Just being in the game the whole time .. . (and) picking up guys,” said Puszkar.

“It’s a small part of the game but it’s  huge for the overall impact.”

What Puszkar wants the team to takeaway  is how it felt to win those games and replicate their performance and carry that on.

Austin Borthwick led the way for the Lakers in the first game after getting a hit on three attempts at the plate and had two runs batted in (RBI).

Railey de Mateo had a hit on one time at bat and also scored a run and batted in an RBI.

de Mateo had a hit on four attempts and a run and Borthwick had a hit and a run as well in the second game.

Nolan Honess and Grady Knoblich each had two hits on four trips to the plate  each for Lethbridge as well in the second game.

The Lakers are now 2-6 in conference play and will participate in a Medicine Hat tournament this weekend.

Their next conference play is on June 11 against Medicine Hat.