From The Guardian
“Covers Prince Edward Island Like the Dew”

The host Summerside Twins squad sports a 2-2 record at the junior men’s fastpitch championship

JASON SIMMONDS
Transcontinental Media

SUMMERSIDE — The Kelly’s Pub Canadians are the lone undefeated team after three days of play at the 2007 Canadian junior men’s fastpitch championship.

The defending champions from Newfoundland and Labrador overpowered the host P.E.I. Source for Sports Twins 11-1 in five innings Tuesday night to improve to 4-0.

“We’re definitely pleased with our play,” said Canadians’ centre fielder Brad Ezekiel, who walked, doubled home a run and scored twice against the host team. “Hopefully things keep going up from here.”

Also Tuesday evening, the Saskatoon Diamondbacks scored an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull out a thrilling 2-1 decision over the previously unbeaten Scarborough (Ont.) Wolverines (4-1).

Saskatchewan, which beat Elmira, Ont., 5-4 in an afternoon game, improved to 3-2.

“We came out strong against Elmira in the afternoon and tonight (Tuesday) Brady Woods pitched a gem,” said Len Hrycuik, head coach of Saskatchewan (3-2). “We needed these two wins very badly to stay up at the top.

“We were a little bit shaky at the beginning, but it looks like we’re getting stronger and stronger as the tournament goes on.”

Woods allowed one earned run, four hits, no walks and struck out five in seven complete innings. Matt Leahy suffered the loss.

The Canadians scored four times in the top of the second inning to build a commanding 5-0 lead behind ace Jason Hill and put the game out of reach with five runs on four hits and two P.E.I. errors.

Hill went the distance, allowing four hits, striking out five and walking only one. P.E.I. starter Donnelly Archibald gave up seven earned runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Ryan Boland, who went 2-for-3 and scored two runs, homered for the Canadians.

D’Arcy LaPierre, who was 2-for-2, drove in the P.E.I. run.

Earlier in the day, P.E.I. beat Simcoe 8-0 in five innings. Colin Dillon and Matt Dawson both hit 2-for-2 and Jeremy McKinnon hit a two-run homer for P.E.I. John Veinott tossed the win.

“We’re 2-2 after three days and are still in it,” said Twins head coach Scott Bridges. “We have a big day Wednesday.”

The Twins face the winless Miramichi Vics (0-4) from New Brunswick at 12 p.m. and Quebec’s Saint-Leonard Express provide the opposition at 8 p.m.

In other games Tuesday, it was: Scarborough 8 Nova Scotia (East Hants) 0; Quebec (Saint-Leonard) 11 New Brunswick 4 (6 innings); Nova Scotia 5 Simcoe 0. Quebec and Elmira met in a late game.

(www.2007jrmensfastpitch.com)

Standings

W L

Kelly’s (N.L.) 4 0

Scarborough (Ont. 1) 4 1

Elmira (Ont. 2) 3 2

Saskatoon (Sask.) 3 2

Summerside (P.E.I.) 2 2

East Hants (N.S.) 2 3

Simcoe (Ont. 3) 2 3

St-Leonard (Que.) 2 3

Miramichi (N.B.) 0 4

Tuesday’s Results

P.E.I. 8 Simcoe 0

Scarborough 8 East Hants 0

Saskatoon 5 Elmira 4

St-Leonard 11 Miramichi 4

East Hants 5 Simcoe 0

Kelly’s 11 P.E.I. 1

Saskatoon 2 Scarborough 1

Elmira 3 St-Leonard 0

Today’s Games

12 p.m., Miramichi vs. P.E.I.

12:15 p.m., East Hants vs. Kelly’s

2 p.m., Scarborough vs. Elmira

4 p.m., East Hants vs. St-Leonard

6 p.m., Saskatoon vs. Kelly’s

6:15 p.m., Simcoe vs. Miramichi

8 p.m., St-Leonard vs. P.E.I.

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