MIDLAND, MI – The ISC World Tournament has reached the juncture that all teams aspire for – Super Saturday – when the tournament has whittled its way down from 46 to the final-four teams in contention for a world tournament title.
And it’s hardly a surprise that the ISC’s four top-rated teams are still in uniform. Here’s how the action breaks down today:
No. 1 New York Gremlins (4-1) take on the No. 3 Jarvis Ontario Travelers (4-1) in a survival game at noon. The winner advances to meet No. 4 Harrisburg PA Power (4-1) at 2 p.m. for the right to take on the undefeated and No. 2 ranked Six Nations Ontario Hill United Chiefs (5-0) in the championship at 7 p.m.
CHIEFS RULE
Let’s take a look at how the Chiefs took over sole possession of the winners bracket. And it starts with pitcher Adam Folkard.
He won his fourth game on Friday, 4-0, over PA Power in the winners bracket final on a two-hitter, no walks, and he struck out 10 in going the distance. Folkard (4-0) has been virtually unhittable in winning four of the Chiefs five games.
He’s allowed 10 hits and two earned runs in 25 innings for an 0.56 ERA, while walking three and striking out 37. But winning championships requires more than great pitching. It takes some offensive clout, too. And these Chiefs have had it in their first, five games.
Chiefs 7, Czech Republic 4
In their opening tournament 7-4 victory over the Czech Republic, Jason Hill and Mark Johnson each were 3-for-4, with Johnson driving in three runs. Mark Arsenault also had a big game, going 2-4, two runs and two RBIs. Mike Joseph (1-0) picked up the win, going four innings, on a 5-hitter, allowing one earned run, and striking out three. Mitch Hardy came on in relief for three innings, giving up three earned runs on five hits, while striking out seven.
Chiefs 10, Scarborough Force 1
Hill United run-ruled the Force in five innings, led by leadoff batter Blair Ezekiel who went 2-for-3 and scored twice. Cleanup hitter Steve Mullaley (2-3) had a huge game driving in three runs and scoring three. His first inning two-run homer started the Chiefs’ offensive onslaught.
Hill (2-3, 3 RBIs) again swung a hot bat; his two-run blast in the third gave the Chiefs a 6-1 advantage. Folkard pitched four innings, allowing one earned run and striking out 10. Hardy finished up with an inning and struck out two.
Chiefs 1, West St. Paul Minnesota Angels 0
Angels’ Juan Potoliccio and Folkard hooked up in a dandy pitching duel. Potoliccio allowed four hits, Folkard two. Potoliccio struck out nine, Folkard 10. The game was scoreless into the fifth. Someone had to come through in the clutch. Jeff Ellsworth (1-for-3) did. The Chiefs’ number two hitter drove in Ryan Thompson, who singled to lead off the inning for the game’s lone run. And Folkard made it stand up.
Chiefs 3, Jarvis Travelers 1
The Travelers came into this game as the reigning, and back-to-back ISC champions. They were on a three-game win streak and a mission to three-peat the title. But their plans got derailed as Folkard allowed the one run on five hits and struck out 7.
On offense, Mullaley (2-for-2, run, 2 RBIs) and Ellsworth (1-2, 2 runs, RBI) were the agents of the Travelers downfall. With two out Mullaley went long ball, blasting a home run with Ellsworth aboard on a walk. The two runs were all Folkard needed, but in the third, Ellsworth (1-3, 2 runs, RBI) homered to give his pitcher a little for insurance.
Chiefs 4, Pennsylvania Power 0
The top of the Chiefs batting order was too much for Powers’ Lucas Mata (two innings, one earned run, three strikeouts) and Karl Gollan (four hits, three earned runs, five strikeouts) in this winners bracket final.
The Chiefs went the long-ball route with Mullaley (2-3, run, RBI) continuing to tear up the worlds’ best pitching. His solo homer in the first gave Folkark and the Chiefs a 1-0 advantage. And in the fifth, Ezekiel (2-for-3), batting leadoff belted a two-run homer with Calvin Miller aboard, who led off with a single.
Then in the sixth, number three in the batting order, Nick Shailes (2-3, run, RBI), followed Mullaley and Ezekiel’s lead and hit a solo homer run.
CHEIFS AWAIT WINNER OF BATTLE ROYAL
And now the resting Chiefs wait as the Gremlins, Travelers and Power beat themselves up for the right to meet Hill United in what figures to be a great Super Saturday.
