Alvinston Takes series Lead 2-1 with 9-4 win
October 2, 2009
Alvinston, ON
Alvinston ON Oct 1 2009
The Alvinston Indians hosted the Shedden Mission in game 3 of the St. Thomas & District Major Fastball League Playoff Championship on Thursday. The series was tied 1-1 heading into a pivotal game 3 matchup.
Shedden got things going early when Gary Cooke smashed a two out, two-run bomb, to give the Mission a 2-0 lead. But, Alvinston was quick to reply in their half of the inning, when Chris Drew did the same thing, hitting a two run homerun to knot the game at 2. Theo Metron then followed Drew with a single, and scored on an RBI double in the gap by Jeff Ingram to put the Indians in the lead 3-2. The Indians would add one more in their half of the first when Brad Young reached base via an error, which scored Ingram for a 4-2 lead. The Indians and starter John Ferguson held Shedden down in the second inning, but Alvinston left the bases loaded in their half of the inning, missing an opportunity to add to their lead.
In the top of the third inning, Shedden got back to work. Matt Lynch got on base via an error, and scored on an RBI triple by Gary Cooke. After a two-out walk to MacPherson, Curtis Cornelius then followed with an RBI double down the line to score Cooke, as Shedden squared matters at 4 runs a piece. The next Shedden batter would then walk to load the bases and Alvinston went to the bullpen to relieve Ferguson with pitcher Brad Young. After a wild pitch, Alvinston catcher Scott Smith combined with now Indians pitcher Brad Young for the final out of the inning, as Young tagged the runner coming home for the third out, as Alvinston was able to end the Shedden rally.
With the game now knotted at 4, Alvinston immediately answered back in their half of the third inning, as Brad Young reached base via an error with one out, and eventually scored on a wild pitch with Andy Triest up to bat. A. Triest then singled to start a new rally, stole second base, and then scored on an RBI triple by Joe Triest. J. Triest would then come home on a clutch two out, two strike single by Steve Donald, as Alvinston fought their way back in the lead, by scoring three runs, and now held a 7-4 lead.
Young would then retire Shedden in order in the fourth and fifth innings, and then hold Shedden off the board in the sixth, when Shedden left runners on first and second. And then, Alvinston got back to work. Joe Triest walked to start things off, and then Steve Donald reached base via an infield single. Shedden was able to retire the next two batters, but Jeff Ingram refused to be the third out, smacking a hard single up the middle which scored both runs, for his fourth RBI of the game. Young then allowed only one hit in the seventh, but kept Shedden at bay, as Alvinston finished with a 9-4 win in game 3.
Brad Young was the winning pitcher for Alvinston allowing 3 hits in 4 1/3 innings pitched in relief of Ferguson. He struckout six and kept the Shedden bats in check for the rest of the night.
Game 4 goes Sunday evening in Fingal at 7:00 pm
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