0 @ 3 
The Calgary Rockies opened their 2026 Sunburst League season against the defending champion Red Deer Riggers last night at Webber Athletic Park. The Rockies came away with a 3-0 victory on the back of early offense and a dominant pitching performance.
The top of the 1st inning would prove indicative of how the rest of the night would go for the visiting Riggers, as Rockies starter Kevin Floyd racked up two of his 10 strikeouts in a clean inning to give the Rockies offense the chance to strike first.
After second baseman Alex Tello and right fielder Chris Cook went down on strikes in the bottom of the 1st, shortstop Luke Carmichael stung a single up the middle to reach base and bring Rockies newcomer Russ Strilchuk to the plate. Strilchuk wasted no time making an impact in his first career Sunburst League appearance, crushing the first pitch he saw over the left center field wall to give the Rockies a 2-0 lead in the 1st that would end up being all they needed.
While offense was at somewhat of a premium for both teams, with neither team accruing more than five base hits, the story of the night became the career-best pitching performance by Friday night’s Player of the Game Kevin Floyd.
In only his second career Sunburst League start, Floyd earned his first win on the mound while notching his first career shutout and setting a new career high in strikeouts with ten. Unsatisfied with the mound dominance, he would pitch in at the plate going 1-3 with a sharp single to right field for good measure.
The Rockies are back in action in a few days when they take on the Calgary Diamondbacks on May 11th at Webber Athletic Park at 7:30pm.
