Comets stun Zeniths with six-run inning to steal victory

Posted on May 22, 2025 by admin

By Garrett Simmons
Westwind Weekly News

It was a battle for the ages on the diamond last week between two heated rivals in Alberta Premier Baseball League.

In the end, the Raymond Comets walked away with an 8-7 win over the Magrath Zeniths, thanks to a huge six-run inning in the bottom of the sixth.

The game looked like it was over in the top of the sixth, as Eli Steed scored on a wild pitch to put the Zeniths up 7-2.

But Talan Ralph led off the bottom half with a double to start the rally. One batter later, Orrin Salmon doubled home Ralph, and the Comets were in business.

Asher Lybbert doubled home Salmon to make it 7-4, before a Kalai Purcell double narrowed the gap even further.

Heggie drove in Purcell to make it a one-run game and then, with two outs in the inning, Zack Coppieters launched a fly ball to centre that brought in two runners to give the Comets the lead.

Magrath threatened in the top of the seventh, as a Balderson double gave the Zeniths some life but it was too little, too late, as Raymond held on to secure the victory.

Ralph led the Comets with a two-hit effort, while six other players had one hit each. Coppieters paced Raymond with two RBI.

Maslin Roy went two and one third innings on the hill, as he struck out two, walked two and gave up four earned runs on five hits. Ralph threw four and one third innings and gave up three earned runs on six hits, a walk and five strikeouts. Salmon recorded the game’s final out.

Cooper Godlonton had three hits for Magrath, while Westin Balderson added two. Nish belted a three-run home run in the top of the third, which gave the Zeniths a 4-2 lead at the time.

Steed pitched three and a one third innings and gave up one earned run, as he struck out one, walked two and gave up two hits. Kohlman Blackmore went two and two thirds innings and was charged with six earned runs on six hits. He also struck out three Comets.

Last Tuesday, Magrath took a 6-4 decision over the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute Rams, as Joe Wilde threw six solid innings for the win. He gave up four earned runs on six hits, two strikeouts and two walks. Cooper Godlonton earned the save. Nish paced the offence with two hits and a run scored.

Tuesday night, Raymond dropped a 14-11 decision to the Hat High Hawks.

Purcell paced Raymond’s attack with three hits and two RBI, while Knox Tame had three hits and drove in one. Ralph, Lybbert and Coppieters all had two hits each in a losing effort.

Salmon started on the mound for the Comets, as he worked three innings and gave up six earned runs on 10 hits, five strikeouts and two walks.

Roy also threw three innings, as he was charged with eight runs on 10 hits, five strikeouts and five walks.

Raymond is now 3-4 in the APBL standings, while Magrath sits at 2-4.