Willow Creek Composite High School baseball team wins championship

By Rob Vogt

The Willow Creek Composite High School Cobras baseball team won the Southern Alberta Baseball League Tier III championship on the weekend in Oyen.
Zak Wright was dominant on the hill, as the righty rang up 13 strikeouts in the Cobras 10-0 victory over the Crescent Heights High School Vikings of Medicine Hat on Saturday, May 31.
Wright surrendered one hit and zero runs over five innings while walking one.
Wright also collected three hits in three at bats, doubling in the fifth inning, singling in the second inning, and singling in the third inning.
The Cobras got on the board in the bottom of the second inning after an error scored one run, Wright singled, scoring one run, Cal Schmid singled, scoring one run, and Micah Rice doubled, scoring two runs.
Rice and Mika Haydu Tutu each drove in three runs for the Cobras.
Claresholm had patience at the plate, collecting nine walks for the game. Sam Van Rootselaar, Liam Schuler, and Preston McLeod led the team with two walks each. Van Rootselaar and McLeod each stole multiple bases for the Cobras.
Claresholm ran wild on the base paths, accumulating 10 stolen bases for the game. The Cobras were sure-handed and didn’t commit a single error. McLeod made the most plays with 11.
The Cobras advanced to the final with a 13-3 win over the Crowsnest Consolidated High School Panthers of the Crowsnest Pass earlier on Saturday.
Zak Wright drove in five runs on two hits to lead the Cobras. He had an inside the park grand slam in the fifth inning, scoring four runs, and singled in the fourth inning, scoring one.
Easton Wright struck out 10 batters on the day. The right-handed pitcher also surrendered eight hits and three runs over five innings while walking one.
The Cobras got on the board in the bottom of the third inning after Cal Schmid hit a sacrifice fly, scoring two runs, Carson Ring drew a walk, scoring one run, and an error scored one run.
Claresholm added seven more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on two hits. Preston McLeod drew a walk, scoring one run, Wright hit that inside the park grand slam, and Wright tripled, scoring one run.
Wright and Schmid were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected two hits for the Cobras. Claresholm again had patience at the plate, piling up 12 walks for the game. Ring, Liam Schuler, and McLeod led the team with two bases on balls each. Wright, Wright, Schmid, and McLeod each stole multiple bases for the Cobras, who stole 12 bases in the game.
Claresholm was sure-handed in the field too, not committing a single error. Wright made the most plays with seven.
The Cobras opened up play on Friday, May 30, with a 11-1 win over the Senator Gershaw Gators of Bow Island.
Keegan Scott collected four hits in four at bats, tripling in the fourth inning, doubling in the first inning, singling in the first inning, and singling in the fifth inning.
Claresholm scored six runs in the first inning on the way to victory.
Cal Schmid doubled, scoring two runs, Easton Wright drew a walk, scoring one run, Mika Haydu Tutu drew a walk, scoring one run, and Carson Ring singled, scoring two runs.
Schmid earned the win on the mound for the Cobras. The righty allowed two hits and zero runs over two innings, striking out six and walking none. Preston McLeod pitched four innings in relief for Claresholm, surrendering one hit and one run while, striking out nine and walking five.
The Cobras tallied 14 hits in the game. Ring and Zak Wright each drove in two runs for the Cobras, while McLeod collected three hits for Claresholm in three at bats.
The Cobras were sure-handed in the field and did not commit a single error. McLeod made the most plays with seven.