It’s how you finish, not how you start.
The Turner Valley Braves got off to a sluggish 1-2 start at the Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games, but turned it on to bring home gold in the 55-plus mixed division.
The Braves, representing Zone 2, beat Zone 7, 17-13, in the gold medal game at Strathmore on Aug. 12.
“We jumped on them right away — in the first inning we got four runs,” said Braves coach Harry Cowan said.
The Braves got first-inning homers from Dave Weiss and Black Diamond’s Jim Berry.
Only one problem — you are only allowed two dingers a game.
“So after that we weren’t allowed to hit home runs — so our big hitters starting doing very well-placed hits,” Cowan said.
The big play of the game for the Braves was on defence.
“The Zone 7 runner on first tried to go to third and [Longview outfielder] Lori Goss picked the ball up and threw a strike to third to get him out,” Cowan said.
The alert third bagger Berry then threw to Jack Bews at second base where the Zone 7 hitter was trying to advance.
“Jack kept the tag on the guy and the guy bounced off the bag — so we had a double play instead of a runner at second and third with nobody out,” Cowan explained.
“That set up the whole game for us in my eyes.”
The Braves opened their tournament with a loss to Calgary. They then downed Zone 4 and completed the round-robin with a loss to Zone 7.
However, what comes around goes around in slowpitch.
The Braves avenged their two losses, knocking off Calgary in the semifinal 20-16 and then Zone 7 for the gold medal.
“We just came to play,” Cowan said of the Braves’ playoff run. “Everyone was so superb. We hit the ball better — our nerves were over.
“The team played like champion.”
The victory earned the Braves an invitation to St. John, NB for the national championship in 2018. The Braves are the defending champions, winning the national title in 2016 in Brampton. Ont.
Although the Braves have won national titles in the past, amazingly this is the first time they have taken the top prize at the Alberta Games.
The Braves are a team — all the players who were healthy played in the Alberta 55-Plus Games.
It’s how you finish, not how you start.
The Turner Valley Braves got off to a sluggish 1-2 start at the Alberta 55 Plus Summer Games, but turned it on to bring home gold in the 55-plus mixed division.
The Braves, representing Zone 2, beat Zone 7, 17-13, in the gold medal game at Strathmore on Aug. 12.
“We jumped on them right away — in the first inning we got four runs,” said Braves coach Harry Cowan said.
The Braves got first-inning homers from Dave Weiss and Black Diamond’s Jim Berry.
Only one problem — you are only allowed two dingers a game.
“So after that we weren’t allowed to hit home runs — so our big hitters starting doing very well-placed hits,” Cowan said.
The big play of the game for the Braves was on defence.
“The Zone 7 runner on first tried to go to third and [Longview outfielder] Lori Goss picked the ball up and threw a strike to third to get him out,” Cowan said.
The alert third bagger Berry then threw to Jack Bews at second base where the Zone 7 hitter was trying to advance.
“Jack kept the tag on the guy and the guy bounced off the bag — so we had a double play instead of a runner at second and third with nobody out,” Cowan explained.
“That set up the whole game for us in my eyes.”
The Braves opened their tournament with a loss to Calgary. They then downed Zone 4 and completed the round-robin with a loss to Zone 7.
However, what comes around goes around in slowpitch.
The Braves avenged their two losses, knocking off Calgary in the semifinal 20-16 and then Zone 7 for the gold medal.
“We just came to play,” Cowan said of the Braves’ playoff run. “Everyone was so superb. We hit the ball better — our nerves were over.
“The team played like champion.”
The victory earned the Braves an invitation to St. John, NB for the national championship in 2018. The Braves are the defending champions, winning the national title in 2016 in Brampton. ON.
Although the Braves have won national titles in the past, amazingly this is the first time they have taken the top prize at the Alberta Games.
The Braves are a team — all the players who were healthy played in the Alberta 55-Plus Games.
