After a long day of rain wiped out play on Sunday at the Canadian Men's Baseball Championships, the medal games finally took place on Monday at Ironmen Field in Miramichi, New Brunswick. In the bronze medal game, it was Team Ontario represented by the Windsor Stars taking on Team Alberta represented by the Red Deer Riggers. 

This was a back and forth slugfest that saw a number of lead changes as well as 21 runs and 28 hits combined by the two clubs. It would be Alberta who was strike first in this game plating a run in the bttom of the first inning. Team Ontario would plate a pair of run in the top of the second inning to take a 2 - 1 lead but that lead would be short lived with Alberta scoring three in the bottom of the frame for a 4 - 2 lead after two innings. 

Team Ontario, not phased, would answer right back again as they scored four runs in the third inning and added another run in the fourth inning to take a 7 - 4 lead after four innings. Team Alberta would chip away at that lead though as they would plate three runs in the fifth inning to tie the game 7 - 7. Team Ontario, once again, would respond plating three runs in the 6th inning for a 10 - 7 lead. 

Team Alberta, with their back against the wall, would go to work again and when the dust settled they would plate four runs and take an 11 - 10 lead to the final frame of the game. In this inning, Team Ontario would get the lead off batter aboard on a single. Team Alberta would retire the next two batters followed by the base runner stealing second base. The runner would be stranded there though as a strikeout ended the game 11 - 10 for Alberta earning them the bronze. 

Offensively for Team Alberta, they were led by 3B Alex Bishop who had a big day going 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs, two runs and three RBIs. OF Matt Murray was 2-for-3 with a home run, a pair of runs and two RBIs while SS Cleary Simpson was also 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs and an RBI. OF Sawyer Marshall also had a pair of hits going 2-for-3 and scoring a run while DH Josh Edwards was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. 1B Tyler McWillie was 1-for-4 with a run and a pair of RBIs while 2B Jaret Chatwood and C Kyle Belich each had a hit and an RBI. OF Nolan Handley also had a hit going 1-for-3 scoring a run to wrap up the Team Alberta offense.

For Team Ontario, their 15-hit attack was lead by DH Rowan Glasgow who was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a walk, a run and two RBIs. 2B Alec Boucher was also 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run scored while C Mitch Hudvagner was 2-for-4 with a walk and three runs. OF Jacon Prsa was 2-for-5 with an RBI while OF Brysen Vernon was 1-for-4 with a walk and a pair of RBI. SS Josh Anderson was 1-for-5 with a double, two runs and two RBIs while OF Steven Adam was 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI. 2B Carter Reh was 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI coming in part way through the game while Kyle Marusic had an RBI to wrap up the Team Ontario offense. 

On the mound, it was Jay Kirkham, the fifth of six Team Alberta pitchers, who ultimately took the win going 2/3 on an inning allowing no runs on just one hit while walking one and striking out one. DJ DePiero drew the start going two innings allowing two runs (none earned) on one hit while walking two and striking out four. Jared Arnold would be next in and would not record an out allowing three runs (one earned) on no hits and walking one.

Heath Hachkowski would enter next going 1 2/3 innings allowing two runs (both earned) on five hits while walking one ans striking out one. Dom Skjonsberg went the next 1 2/3 innings allowing three runs (all earned) on seven hits striking out two before giving way to Kirkham. Kai Poffenroth would have a clean final frame aloowing no runs or hits and striking out one in picking up the save.

For Team Ontario, it was young 22U right hander Michael Grondin who drew the start on the hill and would go two innings allowing four runs (all earned) on five hits walking none and striking out one in grabbing a no decision. Veteran Kimani Bailey would enter next and would be charged with the loss as he went the last four innings allowing seven runs (six earned) on eight hits. He walked one and struckout five Alberta batters. 

Photo Credit: Rewind 95.9