The Mississauga Arrows (ISC II #34) were a very competitive 2-2 in the Niagara Snapper Shootout this past weekend, taking a pair from two top 10-ranked teams before bowing out in the quarter finals.
The Arrows congratulate fellow GHFL member Niagara Snappers on their victory in what has been called the best intermediate tournament in Ontario the past 10 years as 12 ISC II teams, including 10 ranked in the top 35 were on hand.
The Arrows opened against ISC II #7 Perkasie, PA KMV Rise and the Arrows came out slugging right from the first pitch, building a 4-0 lead through four innings. Chris McColl started on the mound for the Arrows, going 4 2/3 with three strikeouts. Scott Smith came on to record the save, coaxing a fly ball to end a scoring threat and proceeded to strike out five in the next two innings sandwiched around a couple of walks and hits as the Rise didn’t go quietly. Tim Coe was spectacular at shortstop while Andrew Hill roamed the enormous right field to our benefit. McColl had three hits, an RBI and scored twice for the Arrows. Tim Thorne was 2-3 with an RBI and Coe had an RBI as well. Tom Vogel went all six innings for the Rise.
Arrows 4
Rise 2
WP Chris McColl 4 2/3 IP 3K’s
Save Scott Smith 2 1/3 IP 5K’s
Chris McColl 3-3 RBI
Tim Thorne 2-3 RBI
Tim Coe 1-3 RBI
Next up for the Arrows was the 2004 ASA “A†Champion Oswego, NY McKie’s Sports, currently ranked #5 in the June 1 ISC II Rankings. Once again, the Arrows jumped out in front, taking a 3-0 lead for pitcher Craig Walker in the seventh. Both Mike Welton & Blair Setford scored on close plays at the plate with Setford sliding around the McKie’s catcher for the second run. A throwing error gave McKie’s life, leading to a pair of unearned runs in the top of the seventh, but Scott Smith nailed down the win, getting the final two outs. Walker was outstanding for the Arrows, throwing three different pitches for strikes and keeping a strong McKie’s lineup off balance all game. Shawn Sampson went the distance for McKie’s.
Arrows 3
Mckie’s 2
WP Craig Walker 6 1/3 IP 4Ks
Save Scott Smith 2/3 IP 1K
Ron Rosengren 2-2
Blair Setford 2-3
Jeff Beange 1-1 RBI
Andrew Hill SAC Fly RBI
The final round robin game matched up the Arrows with ISC #19 Alvinston Indians. Drew Hathway started for the Arrows and deserved a much better fate than we gave him. Hathway matched the Indians veteran Doug Charlton at zeros into the fourth when his defence deserted him as the Arrows made more errors, physical & mental, in one inning than we’ve made all year. A late two-run HR sealed the deal for Alvinston.
Alvinston 6
Arrows 0
LP Drew Hathway 6IP 4Ks
Ron Rosengren 2-3
Tom Fortune 1-3
Drew Hathway 1-3
With the Rise, Alvinston and the Arrows all finishing 2-1, the Indians took the tie-breaker based on fewest runs allowed in the games involving our three teams, while the Arrows took second place on the strength of their head-to-head win over the Rise.
In the quarter finals, the Arrows faced former US National Team member Bill Hillhouse and the ISC II #12 Keating’s Fitness team from Wilkes-Barre, PA. Hillhouse used a devastating changeup to great effect early, keeping Arrows batters off balance. The Arrows missed three home runs by a combined total of about eight feet – two just foul and one caught against the centerfield fence – which would have made it a different game, but that’s fastball. Chris McColl started and matched Hillhouse into the fourth before running out of steam as Keating’s plated three on a based-loaded triple. Smith and Walker both struggled with an inconsistent strike zone as Keating’s ended the game in the sixth.
Keating’s 7
Arrows 0
LP Chris McColl 3 1/3 IP 1K 3R
Scott Smith 1 1/3 IP 2Ks 3R
Craig Walker 2/3 IP 1R 4BB
Chris McColl 1-3
Ron Rosengren 1-2
Next tournament action for the Arrows is the ISC II Qualifier in Innerkip June 17-19. The Arrows open against Durham Eagles and will be looking to avenge an extra-innings loss suffered in an early bird tournament back in May.
Blair Setford
Mississauga Arrows
www.ghfl.ca/arrows.htm
mail to: blairjs@rogers.com