Kamloops – For the second week in a row, the NorthPaws defeated the Edmonton RiverHawks in a series opener, this time 9-1 at NorBrock Stadium. After going down 1-0, the Paws had a big third inning that featured a Tate Martin bases-clearing double. The pitchers allowed the offence to cruise once again. Chris Compton had a phenomenal outing in relief as the team cruised to their 20th win of the season.
Righty Chase Demmler started the game and threw two shutout innings. This acted as an opener for Chris Compton, who ran into a bit of trouble as the RiverHawks made it 1-0 in the third.
In the home half, the NorthPaws answered back. The top of the order was up with one out. Kade Crawford walked, Jared Hall got hit by a pitch, and Evan Dugdale reached via an error. Brock Grainger was up next and got hit by another pitch, making it 1-1. Two batters later, Tate Martin had the bases loaded with two outs. He got a fastball and drilled it ot the gap in left-center field, clearing the bases and putting the Paws up 4-1.
In the fourth, Kamloops mounted a two-out rally with Crawford getting hit by a pitch and Hall walking. Dugdale laced a double into left-center field, bringing home both runners, making it 6-1.
Compton continued to dominate, and the bats rewarded him with sacrifice RBI’s in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, all but guaranteeing the victory. Overall, Compton went five innings, giving up just one earned run off two hits.
The eighth and ninth innings belonged to Kamloops native Ibrahim Diaou. The righty wasn’t perfect, but he got the job done in the eighth thanks to a great unassisted double play turned by Martin. In the ninth, he walked two batters and hit one in a two-strike count with two outs. Diaou was able to get a swing and miss for the final out, helping deliver the 20th win of the season.
The two teams will battle it out on Wednesday night, with a large crowd expected as Stanley Cup Champion Logan Stankoven will be on hand to sign autographs pregame. The Paws will look to win the first game of a two-game series in over three weeks. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35.
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