The reigning ISC World champions, the Kitchener Rivershark Twins top the 2007 ISC World champs, The Farm Tavern, of Madison, Wisconsin, 7-5 in Friday’s nightcap, a see-saw battle that came right down to the wire, and treated fans at Monkton to the most exciting game yet at the 2009 World Fastball Invitational.
Kitchener continued to show they are the team to beat, following up last year’s ISC World Title with a Legends Tournament title, and is now 2-0 at the prestigious Monkton tournament. They jumped out to an early lead against the Farm, touching up former teammate Frank Cox for three in the first. The Farm charged back with three of their own to tie the game, then a single run an inning later to take a 4-3 lead. Kitchener dug in, and scored two more to re-take the lead, only to have the Farm tie the game at 5. Despite the cool weather and late hour, the local fans stayed put to see the exciting finish, with Kitchener’s Craig Crawford blasting a two run homer to right field for the final margin of victory. Todd Martin picked up the win, in relief, with Cox suffering the loss. Dean Holoien started the game, notching strikeout after strikeout with a hard drop, and a blazing rise ball that at times, looked unhittable. Donnie Scott relieved Holoien , giving Kitchener another hard thrower to follow Holoien. Martin finished things off, giving fans a look at three-quarters of the vaunted Kitchener pitching staff, with only newcomer Grant Patterson not seeing action.
Play resumes at Monkton at 8:00 a.m. and continues into the evening. Ballparkradio.com will carry four games live on the internet at www.ballparkradio.com at 12, 2, 6 and 8pm.