Just one loss for Red Deer’s bantam AAA Servus Credit Union Braves this past weekend, but it was a costly loss as it kept them from taking first place at the JDawgs Canada Day tournament in Okotoks.

The Braves opened play last Thursday against the Regina Pacers, a team many expected to win the tournament, but came away empty handed, falling 9-8 to the team from the Saskatchewan capital.

Riley Guntrip got the start for Red Deer, giving up seven runs on five hits to go along with three striekouts over four innings of work, but it was reliever Mitch Vanson who took the loss on the mound.

Joel Mazurkewich went two for two at the dish, banging out two doubles and knocking in four runs, while Vanson and Nik Fischer each chipped in with one hit and one run scored.

Defense was the story of the day when the Braves took the field Friday for their second game of the tournament.

Starting pitcher Brendan Baker pitched a complete game no hitter as Red Deer dumped the Calgary Cubs 9-1 in a game that lasted just five innings because of the eight run mercy rule.

Ryan Klinck went two for four at the plate, with a single, a triple and one run batted in, with Brett Barrett, Guntrip and Baker also contributing hits in the win.

Saturday’s game against the Saskatoon Cardinals was a bit closer, with Justin Van Tetering throwing the final two innings in Red Deer’s 6-5 win.

Barrett got the start for the Braves, allowing four runs on seven hits and adding five strikeouts over six innings of work to get the win.

Guntrip paced the offense, banging out two singles and one double in four plate appearances.

He also picked up two RBI’s and scored two runs, while Klinck went two for four in the batters box, knocking home one run and scoring another.

Levi Moon pitched Red Deer’s final round robin game of the tournament on Saturday afternoon, throwing a five inning no-hitter as the Braves blanked the Foothills Red Dawgs 9-0 in another game shortened because of the mercy rule.

Moon fanned seven batters over five innings in picking up the no-hitter, and he also chipped in offensively with two singles.

Van Tetering and Klinck also contributed a pair of singles each, while Baker lead all batters, going three for three at the plate, with two singles and two RBI’s.

Despite going 4-1 in the round robin and outscoring its opposition 38-15, Red Deer finished second in its pool and advanced to the consolation final against the Okotoks Outlaws.

Mazurkewich pitched two hit ball over six innings as Red Deer picked up a 6-0 win over the Outlaws to finish the 10 team tournament in third.

Moon, Guntrip, Klinck and Mazurkewich all had hits for Red Deer, with Guntrip leading all batters with two runs batted in.

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