By Jeff D'Andrea

Astros sweep New Zealand in doubleheader

Jun 18, 2018 | 11:52 PM

The Prince Albert Astros swept Team New Zealand in an Under-19 friendly doubleheader on Monday night at Max Power Ball Park.

The Astros won the opening leg 4-2 in the early evening, then won 7-2 for all the diehards and nighthawks in the late contest.

Although New Zealand is sending a squad to the 2018 Junior Men’s Softball World Championship July 7-15, they will be sending a different outfit than the one that played on Monday.

Before the major tournament, the Astros will play another two national teams. They’ll take on July 2 against Team Argentina at 4 p.m. and the Czech Republic July 5 at 6 p.m.

Game 1, Astros 4 New Zealand 2

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Troy Preymack was the star of Game 1 of the doubleheader for the Astros. He pitched the complete seven-inning game, struck out six and scattered four hits. Preymack also helped out his own cause at the plate, hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to give his Astros a 3-0 lead at that point. Jett Amundson quickly scored afterwards to extend the Astros’ lead to 4-0. In the first inning, Ryan Bicknell started the game off with a triple, later scoring.

The Kiwis didn’t score until the top of the seventh inning, scoring twice on two hits. Moana Hibbert and Beau Tolomaki both crossed the plate for New Zealand.

Game 2, Astros 7 New Zealand 2

Astros pitcher Darian Bellegard-Cote was dominant in the second game, striking out 15 batters in the full-seven innings while scattering five hits.

New Zealand was able to open the scoring in this contest, with a crossing the plate to give the cross-the-world travellers a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the third inning. But the travellers perhaps got a tad weary at the top of the fourth inning, as a few errors creeped in. The Astros were able to take advantage, scoring a trio of runs. The Astros added another three in the top of the sixth inning.

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW