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Game two of the Powerline Baseball League playoffs between the Athletics and Rebels travelled to Rosalind, down the hiway, past the yellow canola fields and bumper wheat and barley crops that only the legendary dirt of Rosalind can grow.  The beautiful weather of late July, hot and humid, was perfect baseball weather and the two teams did not disappoint.

In game one, the lead and momentum bounced back and forth like a ping pong ball, or a ground ball on the unique Ryley infield.  Rosalind held a 2-1 lead before Ryley capitalized on one mistake, which put three runs on the board and the Rebels in control.  Rosalind had luck on their side in the seventh and eighth innings, as the Athletics took game one 6-4 in an exciting affair.  With holidays and tight work schedules, the A's were using a unique strategy of not having any player play the same position from game one to game two.

Steve Enright got the start in game two for the A's, coming off his last critical start against Leduc while the Athletics were in must win mode.  Enright was in fine form from the get go, as the Rebels weren't able to string together many baserunners.  Three times, Steve was able to work out of jams with runners in scoring position and escape unscathed.  An imparative strikeout, with the bases loaded and dangerous hitters on deck in the 5th inning was the turning point towards a Rosalind victory.  In true A's pitching strategy, Enright threw a dominating complete game shutout, allowing only 4 hits, many of the bloop single variety, while striking out 4 and walking only 1 batter.

Offensively, Rosalind did a much better job of capitalizing on baserunners comapred to game one.  Steve Enright was on fire, not only on the mound, but at the plate as well, as he went 3 for 4 with two singles and a double.  Ryan Yuha continued to be one the the A's most productive hitters, driving in 3 runs in a 2 for 4 effort.  The highlight of the game though, which brought the most cheers from the tremendous crowd, nearing 100 spectators, was Brett Yuha showing off a canon of an arm on a fly ball to right field that the young local right hander threw a seed to third base to keep the tagging Ryley baserunner from  advancing.

With the 5-0 win, and the series sweep, the Athletics move on to the PBL Championships.  The other semi final series, between the Beaumont Angels and Armena Royals is tied at 1-1, after the Angels won on Tuesday night, 9-7.  The rubber match of that series goes on Thursday.  Check back on the website for updated information on where the A's will be travelling to start the finals.  Either way, the Atheltics are looking to avenge the finals loss last year, a disappoint series in which Rosalind felt they had more to offer.

The Powerline Baseball League playoffs got underway on Thursday night.  With a 10-4 record, the Ryley Rebels captured the regular season pennant for the second straight year.  The Rosalind Athletics, Beaumont Angels, and Armena Royals all finished with a 9-5 record, with the runs for and against tie breaker putting the Royals in 2nd, the Angels in third and assigning the A's to 4th.  This set up rematches of the semifinals from last year.  Rosalind was able to pull out a 2-1 series win against the Rebels, in an incredibly exciting and intense, hard fought three game series.  Ryley won both regular season games, with their high octane offence racking up 8-3 and 4-1 victories.

Dan Enright was selected as the starting pitcher for game one of the playoffs.  Enright is a big addition to the playoff rotation, after the Rosalind ace missed both last years playoff series. After coming off the DL late in the season, and a solid pitch performance in a must win game versus the Milleteers, the A's had high hopes with ZamZam on the mound.  The youngest Enright cruised through the first four innings, showing good fastball command and a curveball that had Rebels batters off balance.  An unfortunate hop in the gravel pit on a routine groundball to third made the fifth inning more interesting than Enright would have wanted.  The Rebels strung together a three hits and a walk, and seemingly out of nowhere took a 4-2 lead.  ZamZam shut the door, with consecutive three up-three down innings the rest of the way on the road to a comeback victory.  Enright's pitching line read a complete game, 8 innings strong, allowing 7 hits while striking out 6, and more importantly walking only one.

Offensively, Rosalind looked poised to jump out to a lead early and often, as the A's had the bases loaded in each of the first three innings.  However, the only run from the offensive forray that the Athletics were able to put on the board was Adam Enright scoring on a passed ball in the third inning.

Adam Enright lead off the fifth inning with a double down the line, and was advanced to third on Nic Ronsko's "sac fly" that will show up in the scorebook as a standard fly ball to right field, Ronnie.  The A's shortstop showed off his speed, scoring on his second passed ball of the game to give Rosalind a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning.

The Athletics had their backs against the wall going into the top of the 7th, after the Rebels took a 4-2 lead.  Sheldon Pederson lead off with a double over the center fielders head, but the A's would need more baserunners down by two.  After two quick outs, the A's were in dire straits, down to their final out.  Pinch runner from the fifth inning, Mark Gjesdal, walked and brought about a Ryley pitching changed.  On the first pitch, from the Rebels reliever, Pederson stole third and Gjesdal followed to second, putting the tying run in scoring position.  Brayden Benson's swinging bunt was played nicely by the third basemen, but the Rebel playing first was unable to make the catch, allowing Pederson and Gjesdal to score and tie the game.

Steve Enright, Josh Burnstad and Adam Enright all strung together singles in the top of the eighth, to load the bases.  Ronsko did more than have a productive "sac fly" at bat, as the lanky left fielder crushed the frozen rope over the infield to score two runs and put the A's up 6-4.  Those eventual game winning runs gave the A's the game one win and the lead in the best of three series.

Thursday night saw the match up of two teams looking to secure a playoff spot, both in control of their own destinies.  Leduc and Rosalind played the previous week, in a game that was equally as vital to securing a playoff spot.  The A's took that game, 16-3, with the bats finally coming out of a cold slumber.  Thursday game was a rescheduled affair, after the skies opened up in the first half of the season in Rosalind.  That game saw the A's take a 7-0 lead into the bottom of the third inning before rain and lightning forced the umps to call off the game.

Dan Enright got the start for the Athletics, his first since coming off the DL with a lower body injury.  The addition of Enright back into the starting rotation before playoff would be a big boost, and there would be no time better to test the consistent right hander than a must win game on the last day of the season.  Enright had some early adrenaline to manage, but quickly got back to work mowing down the Milleteers line up.  ZamZam pitched a complete game, in the 10-0 mercy win, allowing only 4 hits while striking out 5 and walking one.

Offensively, much like the first match up in Rosalind, the Athletics jumped out to an early lead and didn't look back. After two walks, to begining the bottom half of the first by Steve Enright and Josh Burnstad, Sheldon Pederson drove in one run on single to right center.  Adam Enright kept the train rolling with a follow up RBI single.  After Pederson stole third, and A.Enright followed to second, Nic Ronsko drove in the third run of the inning with a sac fly.

The A's kept the momentum burning in the second inning, as Bart Orr roped a hard hit single to right field, Steve Enright contintued with a classic base hit before Ryan Yuha drilled a 2 RBI single over the outfielders head.

Rosalind put another crooked number on the board in the thrid inning, after Nic Ronsko led off with a double to right field.  Benson and Orr followed with back to back walks.  Steve Enright got fortunate after the firstbasemen dropped the ball on a groundball to first.  Ryan Yuha picked up his 3rd RBI of the game on a fielders choice, followed by a Josh Burnstad single.

Adam Enright got the A's started in the fourth inning with a lead off, stand up double.  Cory Lohr got Adam over to third with an opposite field single, before Matt Enright drove in the 10th run for the Athletics.  Providing enough offence for a 10 up after 5 mercy win for Rosalind.

The Athletics now wait for the other teams to play out their make up rain out games to decide the final standings.  Leduc and Beaumont are both still alive for the final playoff spot, while Ryley and Armena try to battle it out for the pennant.  The playoff, barring more rainouts, are scheduled to start on Thursday next week.  Check back for updates on when and where the Rosalind Athletics get back to exciting playoff action.

On Tuesday night, Rosalind travelled to Holden to take on the Blue Jays in the first of two games this week with dire playoff implications.  At the beginning of the night there were three teams tied for the final two playoff spots, as Rosalind, Beaumont and Leduc all had 14 pts.  With the Milleteers and Angels playing each other, the Athletics still had their fate in their own hands.  The first meeting between the Athletics and the Blue Jays was an intense affair, as the Blue Jays made a late game rally to take a 3-2 lead before the Athletics were able to stage a 2 run inning for their first walk off win of the season.

Brayden Benson got the start for the Athletics, his 6th of the season.  In typical Benson fashion, the youngster was locating his fastball incredibly well and working in his offspeed pitches to take batters off balance. The local right hander induced 15 groundballs, as the A's turned two timely double plays.  No play was timelier though, as Benson picked off a runner on second base with two out and two runners on and a lengthy at bat going on.  In the long standing tradition of A's pitchers throwing a complete game or bust, Benson pitched 7 scoreless innings, allowing only 3 hits while striking out one, and walking one.

Offensively, the Athletics put two runs on the board in the bottom of the second inning as Nic Ronsko and Matt Enright lead off with walk and single respectively and two stolen bases before Benson helped his own cause with a hard hit sac fly.  Mark Gjesdal continued his recent hot streak cashing in the second run with a single, but still has trouble on the basepaths as the young ginger got picked off first to end the second inning.

The A's didn't get on the scoreboard again until the top of the seventh inning, with the score still 2-0, Steve Enright got things started with a walk before back to back singles by Adam Enright and an RBI single by Josh Burnstad.  Sheldon Pederson cashed two more runs with a 2 RBI double to the gap to make the game 5-0 and give the A's the cushion they needed to end the game.

The Athletics helped the local economy with a few drinks, pizza and wings and got a chance to meet some of the local wildlife at the Holden Bar.

Rosalind hosts Leduc to decide the final playoff spot on Thursday.  Should be a very good game with lots on the line.  Make sure to come out and support the A's. 

Rosalind Athletics - 3

Ryley Rebels - 8

The Athletics travelled to the big city of Leduc on Tuesday night to take on the Milleteers.  Much like last season, Rosalind would be faced with critical games versus Leduc in an effor to secure a playoff spot.  The first match up of the season saw the A's get out to a big 7-0 before the skies opened up and rain postponed the game in the third inning.

Steve Enright looked to continue his string of quality starts this season, as he took to the mound for his 5th start of the year.

On Sunday afternoon the Rosalind Athletics took on the A's from years past.  The game coinsided with the village of Rosalind celebrating their 100th birthday over the weekend.  Thousands of people make the trip out to catch up with old neighbours, family and friends.  The baseball team entered a float, driven by Bart Orr, in the parade on Saturday afternoon.  The weekend was highlighted by an incredible fireworks display on Saturday night, followed by the baseball game during the beautiful weather on Sunday. 

After a quick thunderstorm dumped a shot of rain on the Rosalind diamond, the grounds crew got to work and made the diamond playable.  The Homer Dome is probably the best diamond to drain water quickly, and Thursday night proved it.  The Ryley Rebels were in town for the first time in the PBL season, a rematch of an intense semi final playoff series that went the distance with the A's prevailing.

Dan Enright got the important start for Rosalind, coming off a complete game win versus Beaumont in his last trip to the mound.  However, after the first inning, a hip flexor injury flared up and Enright had to be pulled from the game.  Enright, will be re-evaluated after receiving treatment in the next few days.  Brayden Benson got the short notice, injury relief call, after the Athletics scored a run in the bottom of the first inning.  Benson did a fantastic job of settling in and attacking the Rebels hitters.  The defence behind Brayden put together a good showing, with multiple web gems as Steve Enright took a sure hit away ranging to his left, and Brett Yuha and Sheldon Pederson both had outfield assists, cutting down Ryley baserunners.  In the sixth inning, the Rebels strung together a few hits, an unfortunate misplay and a tough non call with two outs allowed Ryley to hang a crooked number on the board.  Those runs turned out to be the difference maker in the game.  Benson threw six innings, and gave up 4 runs, 2 earned while striking out 7 and walking 1.

Offensively, Rosalind wasn't able to capitalize on a couple of lucrative opportunities to open up their lead early in the game.  After a walk by Steve Enright and a single by Ryan Yuha, Josh Burnstad was able to cash the only A's run of the game in the bottom of the first inning.  That run looked like it might be able to hold the lead until the sixth inning.  In total, the Athletics scattered eight hits, but weren't able to produce at critical times, as Rosalind left 10 runners on base, 7 off those in scoring position.