MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Moose Jaw Miller Express had a solid showing during the Western Canadian Baseball League All Star Game on Saturday night in Okotoks.
Six members of the team made the trip west for the contest, with pitchers Matt Vasquez and Takeo Cookson, outfielder Nate Mensik, infielders Austin Gurney, Nate Houston and Thomas Soto all taking part in the annual showcase of the WCBL’s elite talent.
The East Division would prove superior this year, taking a 13-6 win over the West Division in front of just over 6,000 fans at Okotoks Seaman Stadium.
Before the game itself, the SR Bats Home Run Derby took place, with Gurney representing the MIller Express and turning in an impressive performance.
The third-year veteran -- who had nine home runs on the season heading into All-Star weekend -- finished second among East hitters in the first round of swings, launching seven round trippers. Only Carter Beck of the Saskatoon Berries had more with 11, sending both players into the final round.
There, Gurney would hit five more, finishing a single home run behind winner Peyton McDowall of the Fort McMurray Giants. It was a touching win for McDowall, who had lost his grandmother only a couple of days earlier.
As for the All Star Game itself, Mensik left his mark in dramatic fashion in the final inning. Team West looked to get a rally going in the ninth and had put two runs across when the Doane University senior unleashed a cannon from the outfield and gunned down a runner trying to score at the plate. A few moments later, the contest was over and East had their win.
Beck was named the All Star Game MVP after going 3-for-3 with a run scored and three runs batted in, immediately after his 16 homers in the Home Run Contest.
Four East Division pitchers didn’t allow a run in the contest, with Josh Landry (Medicine Hat), Daniel Crabtree (Regina), Jaylen Gutierrez (Swift Current) and Klevert Martina (Swift Current) shutting down the West’s potent hitters.
The Miller Express are back in action on Sunday night when the Regina Red Sox are in town. Game time is 7:05 p.m. at Ross Wells Park.
