RHEIN - It was an unusual evening for the Rhein Rockets Wednesday.
To begin with the air had a blue hue due to smoke from fires in the northern part of the province leaving a haze hanging over the diamond as they prepared to host the Wynyard Blues in the opening game of a semi-finals set in the Richardson Pioneer Fastball League.
And, then just before game time the oddity for the summer of 2021 rain began to fall.
But with the Rhein Rocket bench called into action to wipe down balls every time one hit the wet grass, the game did get under way.
For the visiting Blues they announced their presence with some authority as Michael Jordan hit a solo home run in the first inning.
Wynyard would go ahead, thanks in part to another Jordan dinger in the third, but Rhein, which recorded two come-from-behind wins in their quarter final round, again proved pesky.
Evan Neibrandt would help the Rocket cause with a home run in the third, and Josh Miller would hit a double with bases loaded in the fourth, and suddenly the home team was up 9-6.
The Blues were not done though inching ahead with four in the fifth to lead 10-9.
The Rockets though responded with a run in the home half of the fifth to knot things at 10-10.
The game was scheduled for seven, but Mother Nature was not in the mood for that, as the evening grew increasingly dark.
Umpire Vern Schick announced the sixth would be the last.
The inning proved nothing, as neither team could plate a run.
The fate of the game was in the hands of the league, and Thursday morning the decision was made – it would be a no-contest.
The decision means the two teams will meet Friday in Wynyard at 6:30 p.m., the winner of that game advancing to the league final against either the Neudorf Posse or the Balcarres Broncos who are in the other semi-final best-of-three.
