Day One Report:
The Medicine Hat Huff & Puff 60's split their opening two games at the Huntsman Senior Games in St. George, Utah.
On Monday afternoon, the Huff & Puffs leading 20-18 heading into the bottom half of the open inning gave up three runs, dropping a 21-20 decision to Imiola, Hawaii. Royce Hopkins, Jim Stewart and Barry Koch all went four for four at the plate. Blaine Lutz, Kelly Lutz, Cal Mayer and Perry Nurse all had three hits. In the nightcap, Medicine Hat defeated the Salt Lake Drifters 22-13. Chris Wandler, Royce Hopkins, Glen Stodolka, Kevin Friesen and Perry Nurse all had three hit nights. Dave Hammel, who picked up the win on the mound and Al Martens both clobbered home runs. The Huff & Puffs close out preliminary play on Tuesday with a game against the Party Time Knights from Fresno, California.
Report By Kevin Friesen
Day Two Report:
The Medicine Hat Huff & Puff 60s closed out preliminary play at the Huntsman Senior Games in St. George, Utah with a convincing 22-10 victory over the Party Time Knights from Fresno, California. Four players were a perfect four for four at the plate. Chris Wandler, Royce Hopkins, Jim Stewart and Blaine Lutz banged out four knocks each. Kelly Lutz pitched a complete game for the victory on the mound. The Huff & Puffs finished preliminary play at 2-1 and will now and wait to see who their first opponent in the playoff round will be Wednesday.
Report By Kevin Friesen
Day Three Report:
As hot as our bats had been in the first eight games, they went really cold today. The Huff & Puff 60s managed only seven hits in a 12-4 loss to Daytona Beach, Florida. It was the first game in the playoff round dropping the Huff & Puffs into a must win situation and needing to win five straight to capture gold. The only two players today with multiple hits were Royce Hopkins and Barry Koch. On Thursday the Huff & Puffs play Steel Mountain. A win give’s Medicine Hat another game at 4:30, a loss ends the tournament.
Report By Kevin Friesen
Day Four Report:
The Medicine Hat Huff &Puffs 60's have clinched a medal at the Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah. In two must win situations Thursday, the Huff & Puffs staved off elimination with a 17-12 victory over Steel Mountain from Salt Lake City. In game two Medicine Hat defeated the Lethbridge Nationals 17-16, to guarantee at least a bronze medal. In game one, Jim Stewart who hammered a three run homer and Curtis Scherger both went three for three. Al Martens, who clobbered a two run home run and Kevin Friesen went two for three. Dave Hammel went the distance and collected the win on the mound. In game two, Jim Stewart nailed a two run home run and went two for four at the plate. Royce Hopkins and Curtis Scherger both had key two run doubles. Chris Wandler was three for four. Kelly Lutz and Dave Hammel pitched for Medicine Hat. The Huff & Puffs will now have a rematch with Imiola, Hawaii on Friday with the winner advancing to the gold medal game against Daytona Beach, Florida.
Report By Kevin Friesen
Day Five Report
The Medicine Hat Huff & Puff 60s are coming home with a silver medal from the Huntsman World Senior Games.
The silver follows up the gold won in Mesquite just four days earlier. Thirteen games might have finally caught up to us as we had a lot of players playing through injury and a whole lot of soreness. In the gold medal game we gave it all we had left in the tank in dropping a close 17-13 decision to Daytona Beach, Florida. Royce Hopkins went three for three. Jim Stewart blasted a three run homer. Dave Hammel, Kelly Lutz, Al Martens and Kevin Friesen had two hits apiece. Earlier in the day, the Huff & Puffs defeated Imiola, Hawaii 19-12. Al Mertens went three for three. Nine guys all had a pair of hits - Chris Wandler, Royce Hopkins, Jim Stewart, Barry Koch, Kelly Lutz, Kevin Friesen, Curtis Schergerand Glen Stodolka.
Overall finished with a 10-3 record and two medals, gold and silver. We would like to thank all of our wives for their support. To the gold medal champions the 65s for coming to our games and cheering us on…. Enjoy the winter and hope t see everyone next spring.
Report By Kevin Friesen