U17 Central Energy Go 2-2 In Busy Weekend

U17 Central Energy took Saturday's game in dramatic fashion, with a 2-1 walk-off victory over the Eastman Wildcats. The Energy were down 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning when Kara Buhler doubled, scoring two runs. Buhler ended up going 2 for 4 in the game. A single by Pascale Kihn put Eastman on the board in the top of the third. Molly Cowan opened the game for the Energy, giving up six hits and one run over seven innings, striking out three and walking none. The Energy defense didn’t give up a single error in the tight game.

Game two of the double header matchups went in favor of Eastman by a score of 9-2, thanks in part to five runs in the fourth inning. Gabrielle Hildebrand started in the circle for Central. She surrendered seven hits and nine runs (two earned) over four innings, striking out none and walking two. Hildebrand also led the team with one run batted in.

On Sunday, the Energy traveled to Brandon and defeated the Westman Magic 8-0, scoring five runs in a big second inning. Nelia Fehr drew a walk, scoring one run, Molly Conrad singled, scoring two runs, and Tori Mangin singled, scoring two runs. A ground out by Cowan, and a walk by Hildebrand helped the U17 club extend their early lead in the third. Fehr stepped in the circle for the Energy and surrendered five hits and zero runs over five innings, striking out eight and walking one. Brooklyn Friesen and Mangin each collected two hits for the Energy. Conrad and Mangin were tough to handle back-to-back in the lineup, as each drove in two runs for Central.

Game two on Sunday versus the Magic was a heartbreaker for Central Energy, as they lost the lead late in a 7-6 defeat. Westman were down 6-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Presley Hodson singled, scoring two runs. Westman led early but Maddy Friesen homered to center field, which helped the Energy tie the game at two in the top of the fourth. The Energy took the lead in the top of the sixth. Toews grounded out, scoring two runs, to give them the edge, 6-4. Westman Magic scored 3 in the bottom of the 6th inning and held Central to no runs in the 7th for the eventual 7-6 victory. Toews pitched a strong game for Central, giving up five hits and seven runs (four earned) over six innings, striking out eight and walking six. Maddy Friesen drove the middle of the lineup, leading the purple squad with two runs batted in and went 1-for-3.

The U17 Central Energy club has a quick turnaround as they face the Manitoba Thunder in Winnipeg on Tuesday and travel to Friedensfeld for a pair of games on Sunday.

 

Central Energy U13 Go 1-3 Against Tough Competition

Manitoba Angels defeated Central Energy U13 7-1 on Saturday in Winkler thanks in part to five runs in the second inning. Bianca Lanthier pitched three innings in relief for Central,

surrendering four hits and two runs (zero earned) while striking out three and walking none. Beaudry English stepped in the circle first for Central. The starting pitcher allowed zero hits and zero runs over one inning, walking three. Kylie Wiebe went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead the Energy hits.

Both teams were strong in the circle on Saturday, but Central defeated the Eastman Wildcats 2-1 in Central’s second game of the day. Central opened the scoring in the second after Brady Wiebe singled, scoring one run. Brady Wiebe also stepped in the circle first for the Energy. She gave up one hit and zero runs over three innings, striking out two and walking none. Kylie Wiebe appeared in relief for Central. Bianca Lanthier went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead Central in hits. The Energy were sure-handed and didn't commit a single error in the tight game.

On Sunday, the U13 group traveled to Friedensfeld for two more games against the Eastman Wildcats.

Game one saw Eastman score six runs in the fourth inning, which helped them defeat Central 9-2 at Friedensfeld Community Centre. Collins Vrooman started the game for Central. The starting pitcher gave up one hit and one run (zero earned) over three innings, striking out one and walking three. Lindsay French and Brady Wiebe also appeared in the circle for Central. Hailey Baldwin was strong at the plate, going 1 for 2 in the game.

Central Energy fell again in game two to the Eastman Wildcats. Eastman scored six runs in the third inning, which helped them defeat Central 10-3. Brady Wiebe stepped in the circle first for Central. The right-handed pitcher surrendered 11 hits and nine runs (three earned) over two and two-thirds innings, striking out one and walking none. Bianca Lanthier drove the middle of the lineup, leading the Energy with two runs batted in. The left-handed hitter went 2-for-2 on the day.

Next up for the U13 girls in purple is a double header with the Interlake Phillies on Friday in Winkler.

 

Central Energy U15 Find Tough Competition

The U15 Central Energy club went 1 and 3 on the weekend. They beat the Manitoba Angels in a high scoring contest but could not scratch out a win in three attempts against a tough Eastman Wildcats team.

Addison Nikkel drove in four runs on four hits to lead Central Energy past the Manitoba Angels 18-12 in La Salle on Saturday. Both offenses were strong at the plate as Central collected 14 hits and the Angels 13 in the high-scoring affair. The Angels led 7-4 until Central flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the third, scoring seven runs on four hits to take an 11-7 lead. The biggest blow in the inning was a single by Taylor Wall that drove in two. Kennedy Funk earned the win for Central. The righty gave up seven hits and

five runs over four and two-thirds innings, striking out four and walking two. Shyanne Goertzen stepped in the circle first for Central. She gave up six hits and seven runs (four earned) over two and one-third innings, striking out none and walking two.

Game two scheduled in La Salle was rained out, so that set up a busy triple header day on Sunday in Morden, with all games being against the first place Eastman Wildcats. Even though Central collected 10 hits to Eastman’s eight, they still fell 4-3 in the first game on Sunday. Rory Perrin led Central Energy U15 2024 with two hits, while also adding an RBI. Nikkel stepped in the circle for the Energy. The left-handed pitcher gave up eight hits and four runs (three earned) over six innings, striking out four and walking two. Mya Richard provided pop in the middle of the lineup, and led Central with two runs batted in. The cleanup hitter went 1-for-4 on the day. Central was sure handed on defense and didn't commit a single error.

Game two featured strong performances in the circle, but Eastman was just a little bit stronger at the plate in their 3-1 victory over Central. Taylor Wall started the game for Central Energy U15 2024 and recorded nine outs. The starting pitcher went three innings, allowing one run (zero earned) on three hits, striking out two and walking two. Kennedy Funk came in relief to pitch 3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits, striking out 2 and walking 3.

Eastman got on the board in the third inning to take the lead. Funk singled, which helped Central tie the game at one in the top of the fourth. Funk went 2 for 3 on the day and led the team with one RBI.

Central Energy fell to Eastman Wildcats 7-2 in the third game of the sunny Sunday. Kennedy Funk began the game for Central Energy. She surrendered eight hits and six runs (four earned) over four and one-third innings, striking out four and walking one. Shyanne Goertzen finished the game, going 2.2 innings, allowing three hits, one walk and one run. Wall, Taryn Toews, Richard, Becca Anderson, Bree Pearce, and Goertzen each collected one hit for Central. The Energy had patience at the plate, tallying six walks for the game. Toews, Nikkel, and Perrin led the team with two walks each.

Central Energy U15 will host the Manitoba Angels in Winkler on Friday at 4pm and 6pm. They will also be in action in Morden on Sunday, welcoming the Winnipeg Lightning for games at 12pm and 2pm.