Miners show offensive prowess

By Lethbridge Herald on June 3, 2025.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Miners American Legion ‘A’  baseball team had a solid weekend as they took three-of-four games they played and put up some big numbers in their wins.

“We swung the bat well, played defence well and our starters were able to go deep into games, which takes some of the pressure off the rest of the team,” said Nicholas Ankermann, Miners head coach.

There was no shortage of offence for the Miners as they scored 48 runs in four games.

“We just tell the kids to have (an) aggressive approach at the dish because a lot of pitchers throw first pitch fastballs (to) try to get ahead in the count,” said Ankermann.

The Miners faced Tri-County Cardinals for the first time  in a Saturday doubleheader where they won 12-0 in the first game and 14-4 in the second game at Lloyd Nolan Yard.

In the first game, it was Brady Hope who led the way for the Miners with four runs on two hits.

Knox Tame got the win on the mound for the Miners after pitching five innings while giving up just two hits, no runs and  striking out two runners and walking one batter.

Kylar Loman led the charge in the second game for the Miners as he drove in four runs on an inside the park grand slam in the fifth inning, which was a part of a big inning for the Lethbridge as they saw a total eight runs cross home plate.

Asher Lybbert got the win for Lethbridge after surrendering four runs on five hits while striking out four and walking four batters over five innings.

The Miners gained a Sunday road split  after beating the Vauxhall Spurs 14-1 in the first game before dropping the second game 8-7.

Between a nine-run sixth inning and drawing 11 walks  in the game is  what propelled Lethbridge to victory in the first game.

Max Roden was the winning Miners pitcher as he went six innings while giving up a  run  on four hits  and striking out six batters and walking two Spurs.

Both teams were tied  at seven going into the seventh inning of the second game and the Spurs walked it off after a passed ball scored the winning run.

Kody Shymkiw took the loss for the Miners as he pitched a third of an inning while allowing a run one hit.

Starter Taylor Chapple allowed six runs on five hits in 3 2/3 innings of work, while striking out three and walking two batters.

The Miners host the Spurs on Saturday for a double header beginning at 1 p.m. at Lloyd Nolan and Great Falls on Sunday for a doubleheader beginning at noon at Spitz Stadium.

Lakers

The Lethbridge Lakers ‘A’ American Legion team participated  in the Medicine Hat Knights tournament over the weekend.

The Lakers beat the Vauxhall Jr. Spurs 16-1 in the third place game on Sunday after beating them 19-0 in the round robin in their first game on Saturday.

Lethbridge fell to the host Knights 13-7 in their second game on Saturday and opened the tournament on Friday with a 13-11 loss to the Swift Current 57’s.

Elks

The Lethbridge Elks ‘AA’ Legion team played  an exhibition series over the weekend against Okotoks Dawgs Academy where they swept all four games.

The first game on Saturday at Spitz Stadium saw the Elks squeeze out a 1-0 win in walk-off fashion where Ben Puszkar’s single in the bottom of the seventh inning brought in Fawkes Bruinsma for the winning run.

Tyler Risling pitched six innings where he allowed no runs and had two strikeouts for the Elks and Daniel Kambeitz was the winning pitcher after pitching an inning and get a strike out.

The Elks then edged the Dawgs 6-5 in the second game  again in walk-off fashion in the bottom of seventh.

Alex Westlund drove in Jesse James Olson for winning run.

Jarred McNeil pitched 5 1/3 innings for the Elks where he allowed no runs on two hits and struck out three Okotoks batters.

Lowen Litagawa got the win in relief.

The Elks opened the double header in Okotoks on Sunday with a 9-7 victory.

Willis Takahashi led the way for the Elks with four hits in five plate appearances and

Carter Bevens was the winning pitchers after not allowing any runs and striking out three batters in 4 2/3 innings of work.

The Elks finished off the sweep with a 6-1 win in the second game.

Bruinsma had two hits in the game while Ben Puskar was winning pitcher after going five innings and striking out six batters .