The bats are back and Central Alberta baseball diamonds were kept pretty busy this past weekend.

Red Deer’s bantam AAA Servus Credit Union Braves were one of the teams in action, hosting a trio of games against three different teams at Great Chief Park.

The Braves opened the weekend on the wrong foot, falling 9-1 to the Foothills Black Dawgs, with starter Tyler Galloway giving up two runs on hits over two innings in taking the loss, while Riley Guntrip, Brett Barrett, Brendan Baker and Levi Moon each chipped in singles at the plate.

The second half of Saturday’s double header saw the Braves find their offense in a 12-4 win over Fort McMurray.

Starting pitcher Joel Mazurkewich gave up three runs on three hits over three innings of work in earning the win and he helped out his own cause, going two for four in the batter’s box, knocking home two runs while scoring two himself.

Moon went two for three at the plate, banging out a single and a triple while driving two runs in, while Baker led all hitters with three runs batted in.

Sunday saw four different Braves pitchers take the mound with Mitch Vanson eventually taking the loss, 11-7 to Sherwood Park Gold.

Mazurkewich had another good day, going two for three, both singles, and scoring two runs, while Ryan Klinck followed up on his two hit, one RBI performance against Fort McMurray with a two RBI single.

Galloway, Barrett, Moon and Guntrip all had singles on Sunday for the Braves, who are back in action tonight at home versus Foothills Red.

In Norwest Midget AAA Baseball League action in St. Albert, Red Deer’s Carstar Braves picked up their first two wins of the season, evening their record at 2-2 with wins of of 7-6 and 8-3 over the host Cardinals in a Sunday doubleheader.

The midget AAA Braves are also back in action tonight, taking on the Foothills Dawgs Black at Great Chief Park.

sports@reddeerexpress.com