Tyler Wojciechowski wasn’t in the starting line-up on Saturday, but still made a major contribution with two home runs and four runs batted in to lead the Swift Current 57’s to their third straight win.
The 57’s and visiting Fort McMurray Giants each knocked out 14 hits, but the 57’s slugged three home runs and made some heads up plays on the bases in an 8-5 win.
Wojciechowski stepped in when slugger Bo McClintock was drilled in the head by a bad bounce in the first inning.
Wojciechowski hit a solo home run in the bottom of the inning, a two-run blast in the third, and added an RBI single in the fourth inning.
STEVEN MAH/SOUTHWEST BOOSTER
Shortstop Ethan Hunter set the table with two hits and two runs scored. Myles Miller made his 57’s debut and singled, doubled, stole a base, and knocked run a home.
Second baseman Will Baker had his best day at the plate with three hits, one run scored, and an RBI.
STEVEN MAH/SOUTHWEST BOOSTER
Ben Komonosky added a solo home run in the eighth inning to close the scoring.
Mitch Guiberson allowed 10 hits, one walk, and four earned runs with four strikeouts over four innings in the start.
Spencer Koelewyn picked up the win with three scoreless innings. Nick Hooper got the final six outs to earn the save.
The 57’s improved to 6-8 and sit fourth in the Eastern Division, while the Giants fell to 5-8.
“The guys are playing well,” said coach Joe Carnahan. “It’s starting on the mound, our pitchers are doing a great job. Offensively, we are starting to do the little things like running the bases well. That was kind of the difference here in that game. In the one inning Will Baker made a heads up play on that bunt and scored from second and Ethan Hunter took third with nobody covering. Those are the little things that as the summer goes along that we can capitalize on.”
It has been a quick turnaround from a 3-8 start to the season.
“It’s just focusing on the process,” said Carnahan. “We can’t really focus on the results when we are doing good or doing bad. You can’t focus on the results, you’ve got to focus on what you’re doing and how you’re doing it and make adjustments off of that.”
Carnahan was impressed with how his team responded from the loss of McClintock early in Saturday’s win.
“Bo didn’t want to come out of the game. He’s a tough kid and it was hard to take him out of the game. But Wojo came in with two home runs and an RBI single. He had a great game today.”
The 57’s were bolstered by a couple additions last week, but still expect a few more bodies.
“We’ve got a couple more pieces on the way still. Stuff always happens throughout the summer. The guys that are here are doing a great job and the guys that we have added that have had to come late have contributed big time to help us win.”
The 57’s will be off Sunday before visiting the Yorkton Cardinals on Monday and Tuesday after a six-game home stand.
“It’s the same. Being on the road is fun too. These guys get to hang out all day and all night and it’s a lot of fun. We’ve got a good group of guys and guys are starting to have a lot of fun and it’s fun to be at the park,” said Carnahan.
