Elks, Miners pick up recent wins

By Lethbridge Herald on June 10, 2025.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Lethbridge Elks Lowen Kitagawa just misses the diving catch during American Legion ÔAAÕ baseball conference play against the Medicine Hat Monarchs at Spitz Stadium on Monday.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Elks American Legion ‘AA’ baseball team swept the Medicine Hat Monarchs in conference play, while gaining a tie against the Monarchs in non- conference game as well over the last couple of days.

The Elks won 9-5 in Monday’s conference game at Spitz Stadium.

Ty Mabin had three hits in three plate appearances to lead the way for the Elks.

Alex Westlund and Carter Mann each had  two hits apiece.

The Elks winning pitcher  was Ben Puszkar as he allowed three runs on eight hits, struck out three and walked three batters in four innings.

Both teams tied the non-conference game 9-9 in the second game on Monday.

Evan Machum had three hits to lead the Elks, while  Mann had two RBIs (runs batted in) and Fawkes Bruinsma and Lowen Kitagawa had two hits each.

Lethbridge took the first game 7-6 in extra innings in Medicine Hat on Sunday.

Mann drove in the winning run with a single in the 10th inning, which was  his second RBI of the game.

Bruinsma also drove into two  RBI’s for the Elks and had a two hit day, while

Westlund, Machum and  Midnite Toker  had two hits each.

Charlie McMillan took the win on the bump for the Elks as he came on in relief of Carter Bevans and starter Jarrett McNeil and pitched an inning while allowing a  hit, not allowing any runs and striking out none and walking none.

A six-run fourth inning propelled the Elks to a 10-0 win in the second game on Sunday.

Machum had three hits, while Mann and Willis Takahashi each had three RBIs for the Elks.

Tyler Risling pitched a complete game shutout, where he allowed no runs on four hits, struck out six and allowed no walks .

The Elks will now prepare for their Mary Oikawa home tournament this weekend.

Miners

The Lethbridge Miners ‘A’ American Legion team won three-of-four games over the weekend.

Lethbridge began their weekend with a doubleheader split with the Vauxhall Spurs on Saturday.

The Miners won in walk-off fashion 5-4 in the first game after Brett Smith hit a single in the bottom of the eighth inning to bring in  the winning run.

Brady Hope  had three hits for the Miners to lead the way, while Smith and Kodi Shymkiw each had an RBI.

Asher Lybbert got the win on the mound for the Miners after coming on in relief of Knox Tame to pitch 2 1/3 innings where he gave up three hits and one run .

Lethbridge dropped the second game of the doubleheader 18-8.

The Spurs scored six runs in the fourth inning and five runs in the seventh inning to propel them to the win.

Smith, Max Roden and Nate Conway-Mulder each drove in two runs each  in the loss.

Kylar Loman was losing pitcher for the Miners after allowing eight runs on seven hits while striking out three and walking three batters.

Lethbridge started their Sunday doubleheader with a 12-2 win over the Great Falls Chargers

Grady Johnson had four RBI’s, including an inside the park home run,  to lead the charge offensively for the Miners.

Hope had  three hits in three trips to the plate to lead Lethbridge in hits.

Taylor Chapple was the winning pitcher after surrendering two runs on six hits, while striking out eight and walking four batters over 5 2/3 innings.

The Miners ended the weekend with a 12-1 win over the Chargers in the second half of the doubleheader.

The Miners did not waste any time getting on the bats as they scored seven runs on the first inning and another five runs in the second inning to pave the way to a win.

Lybbert and Smith each drove in two runs for Lethbridge.

Roden got the win on the mound for Lethbridge after giving up a run on eight hits, striking out six batters and walking one over five innings.