ST. CROIX, N.S. — The White Rock Rockies split both doubleheaders that they played in St. Croix so far this month.
On July 5, after the Rockies split a doubleheader with the Brookfield Elks, Justin Schofield, a player/manager with the ream, said, “they were the best two games of our season to date.”
The Rockies won the opener 5-3 as they scored a pair of runs thanks to a two-run homer by Ryan Smith in the fifth inning, and they plated three more in the seventh on a walk and three singles. This came after Brookfield stranded runners on second and third base with one out in the top of the seventh.
“Playing in the heat was difficult for both teams,” said Schofield.
The Elks came back to win the second game 3-1 while playing great defensively in the field. The only Rockies run came in the sixth inning as Mitchell Urquhart homered.
Schofield was credited with the pitching win while Curtis Broussard, who pitched very well in the second game, was saddled with the loss.
The Rockies hosted the Headline Red Sox for a doubleheader in St. Croix on July 12, and, like the bout against Brooklfield, the Rockies won the first game and lost the second.
Schofield dominated in the opening game. Schofield struck out 20 batters as he pitched the Rockies to a 3-0 win.
The Red Sox were absolutely stymied in the first five innings as Schofield struck out 14 of the first 15 batters he faced.
“I felt I was on a good roll and it was nice to get the run support early,” said Schofield following the game.
He was referencing the Rockies scoring two runs in the first inning on an Aaron Harvey walk and a Broussard single, which was handled sloppily in the field. The Rockies added another in the sixth inning on a pair of base hits.
Schofield will find out Aug. 30 in St. Croix as to whether he will be named to Team Canada’s Men’s Softball Team when they compete for the World Championship in Czechoslovakia later this fall. When Schofield was asked about his commanding performance and whether he was thinking about the looming Aug. 30 announcement, he said: “All I can think about right now is one pitch at a time.”
That said, Schofield said he’s hopeful he’ll land a spot on Team Canada.
Upcoming games
The Rockies will play at home against the Halifax Pepperjacks July 19 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
The Rockies are now 3-7 on the season while the Headline Red Sox are 3-5.
The Shubenacadie Lions lead the league with an undefeated record of 6-0 while the Pepperjacks are 5-3 and the Brookfield Elks are 4-4.
