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Article Date: May 2




Milleteers Collapse Late Against Axemen In Preseason Action
 
 
 
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In a game that closely resembled their preseason game last year, the Milleteers and Camrose Axemen took to the field for the first time this season for some preseason action.  Early on the teams traded zeros, save for a run on a passed ball in the second that gave the Milleteers the lead.  The pitching was ahead of the hitting tonight, as it usually is early in the year. The Axemen answered back with two runs in the fourth, one coming on the only decently hit single all night from cleanup hitter Ryan Mehler, who also hit a laser comebacker in the first that pitcher Steven Pahl snagged in self defense.
 
Both teams used four pitchers, and save for a combined twelve walks, not much happened offensively until the last inning. With two out and nobody on Paul Offrim walked the number eight and nine hitters in the lineup to put the tieing and winning runs on base. He then got a weak ground out to third to end the inning, only to have the third baseman bobble it to extend the game and load the bases. The next hitter then hit another weak grounder to short that might have been good for an infield single to tie the game, but the shortstop missed it completely and allowed the winning run to score as well.
 
With sidewinding closer Drew Boyer on the hill the Milleteers looked to cap off the comeback, but the defense which had been pretty good all night suddenly imploded.  The first batter grounded weakly to third, but the throw to first was low and couldn't be handled.  The next batter did the exact same thing, and despite the throw being on target the result was the same as the first baseman Murray Doyle dropped the ball.  With runners on first and second the Axemen elected to move the runners over, but the Milleteers botched the play as Murray Doyle airmailed the throw into right to tie the game.  After a hit batsman loaded the bases the Axemen won it on a seeing eye single through the drawn in infield. 
 
Despite the uncharacteristically bad defense on both sides in the last inning, the game was well played for the first six innings.  The Milleteers will look to squeeze in another practice or two before they open the regular season at home against the team that took the to the limit in the final last year next Tuesday as they host the Holden Blue Jays.