The record for most strikeouts in a game by a Weyburn Beaver is 16, set earlier this year by Ryan Johnson. Wednesday night in Yorkton, Reid Wall tied the mark as he fanned 16 batters as the Beavers routed the Cardinals 14-1 to improve to 28-9 on the season.

The performance from Wall was the latest in a series of strong outings from the Oklahoma native, who improved to 3-2 on the season. He has 46 strikeouts in total on the season in seven appearances.

The Beavers started out slow, picking up single runs in the first and second innings thanks to Cam Williams and Luke Lubinieki. Things started to pick up in the third, as Weyburn scored two more runs.

With bases loaded, Anthony Galindo hit the ball into a fielder’s choice. An error by the Yorkton second baseman allowed two runs to come across the plate, putting Weyburn up 4-0.

Four more runs came in during the fourth inning, thanks to RBI’s from Corey Harrell, Cory Ewald and Galindo again.

In the eighth inning, the Beavers put the game well out of reach, with six more runs scored. Galindo drove in a run, as did Antony Tejada. Gabe Melendez pushed a run in as well, after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The lone run for the Cardinals came in the eighth inning. With runners on second and third, a single brought in one run, ending the shutout bid for Wall. The pitcher ended the day with the 16 strikeouts over eight innings, allowing four hits, four walks, and one run, which was unearned.

He gave way to Ken Williams who pitched the ninth inning. Williams finished with two strikeouts of his own.

The Beavers finished the night off with a season-high 21 hits, and the 14 runs were the most in a game so far this season.

The Beavers now have a magic number of seven to clinch first in the East Division. They are 5 ½ games up on the Regina Red Sox, who had their game in Fort McMurray halted due to rain tied at 4.

Weyburn will play the Cardinals in Yorkton again tonight, before they return home to host the Melville Millionaires Friday night.