Week three of the Sunshine Coast Fastpitch League started off with a thrilling doubleheader featuring matchups between the Raiders and Lon’s Gun Show, and the Barons hosting the Bears.
In the first game, the Raiders faced Lon’s Gun Show in a rematch from last week. Bill Stockwell and Mike Sopow once again took the mound for their respective teams. The top of the Raiders’ lineup continued their dominant form from the previous game, hitting Sopow hard and jumping out to an early 5-0 lead. Matthew’s stellar defense at third base helped keep the Gun Show at bay with several impressive plays.
However, as they have done all season, Lon’s Gun Show battled back. Greg Kelly almost hit for the cycle in his debut, and timely hits from Nolan Lewarne and Chris Hanchar enabled the Gun Show to take an 8-7 lead in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, Tyler Graham tied the game with a solo home run on a full-count offering from Sopow. Both teams threatened in the seventh inning but failed to score. Taylor Hanchar’s catch of Grady Benner’s hard-hit ball and Shane Heuring’s scoop at first base preserved the tie, ending the game at 8-8.
In the second game, the Barons dominated the Bears with a powerful performance. Jim Peers and Josh Gray combined efforts on the mound to keep the Bears’ bats silent. New sponsorships along the home run fence from Custom Flooring, Rental Equip, Coastal Bay Cannabis, Orion Moto, Hemmingway Electric, Lifted Fitness Studio, and Hanson Land & Sea witnessed their first home runs fly over them.
The Barons, boosted by their new jerseys, saw several balls soar over the fence, including two from Kevin Bennet and one from Josh Gray. Cameron Gangloff also hit a home run, which was unfortunately called back due to a rule infraction. Despite this, the Barons’ offensive onslaught led them to a decisive mercy-rule victory over the Bears.
In an exciting finish to week three of the fastpitch league, Lon’s Gun Show triumphed over the Barons with a decisive 7-2 victory. The game kicked off with a surprising turn of events as Lon’s Gun Show quickly took control, scoring five runs in the first inning and setting the tone for the rest of the game.
Josh Gray started on the mound for the Barons, with Jim Peers stepping in to finish the game. Despite their efforts, the Barons struggled to keep up with Lon’s Gun Show’s early momentum. Taylor Hanchar delivered a strong performance for the Gun Show, allowing only two runs, both coming off sacrifice flies. One of these plays highlighted Jackson’s impressive speed as he tagged up from second base to score.
Defensively, Conner Cross made a spectacular diving catch in centre field, bolstering the Gun Show’s defense and adding to Hanchar’s effective pitching. Cross also shined at the plate, hitting a homerun in the sixth inning to further extend the lead.
Ultimately, Lon’s Gun Show maintained their advantage, securing a 7-2 win over the Barons. As the league progresses, all eyes will be on the Gun Show to see if they can continue their impressive performance in the upcoming weeks.
