July 29-30, 2006
Orillia, ON
The Niagara Snappers headed north this past weekend to participate in the
ISC Travel League of Eastern Canada Playoff Tournament. With a berth on the
line to the 2007 ISC World Tournament for ISC teams only, Niagara
(Intermediate team) was there simply for the experience. The playoff
tournament marked an end to the Snappers ISC season. With a regular season
record of 10 wins 13 losses and 1 tie the Snappers finished the season in
5th place. For the purpose of the playoff tournament, Niagara is the 4th
seed with Kitchener not participating due to already having an automatic
berth as next years World Tournament host.
Game 1:
Niagara’s opening game was against the 5th seed, Ohsweken Redmen. Ohsweken
opened the scoring with a run in the first on a Norm Logan double that
scored Mike Joseph who reached on a two out double. The Redmen added to
their lead in the 3rd when Logan singled to score Calvin Miller, who
extended the inning with a key two out double. Niagara got on the board in
their half of the 3rd when Mike Bateman led off the inning with a single.
Bateman was pushed over by a Todd Dawdy sacrifice bunt and then scored on a
Perry Bartley single. The Redmen answered once again with some 2 out magic
in the top of the 5th. With two outs, Miller doubled and scored on a Logan
single, giving Logan 3 RBI’s for the game.
The two run lead was short lived for the Redmen, as Niagara would continue
to chip away at the lead. In the bottom of the 5th, Jim Wilson led off the
inning with a hard triple to left. Kevin Newhouse promptly smacked a fly
ball to centre to score Wilson who tagged up from third. In the bottom of
the 6th, the Snappers got another on an inside the park homerun by Trevor
Falk. With the game tied at 3, Niagara would add another run in the bottom
of the 7th when Wilson got the ball rolling again with a lead off single and
later scored on a Peter Dobbin RBI single to right.
Niagara 4
Ohsweken 3
WP: Byron Demoe – 5IP, 1R, 5H, 2BB, 6K’s – in relief of Mike Bateman
LP: Mike Joseph – 7IP, 4R, 7H, 1BB, 6K’s
Game 2:
With an opening round win the Snappers would next face the host and eventual
winner, Orillia Riversharks. The Riversharks didn’t waste time as the
pounced early and often with 4 runs in the first, 1 in the second and 2 more
in the third to cruise to a 7-1 mercy shortened game. Niagara starter, Byron
Demoe was tagged with the loss as the Orillia bats took advantage of 6 base
on balls with some timely hitting. Pat Graham and Pat McIntosh lead the
Orillia attack with two hits each and Dwayne McKenzie had two RBI’s.
Orillia starter, Rob O’Brien held Niagara’s hitters in check all game
allowing only two hits over 5 innings of work.
Orillia 7
Niagara 1 (5-inning mercy)
WP: Rob O’Brien – 5IP, 1R, 2H, 6K’s, 2BB’s
LP: Byron Demoe – 3IP, 7R, 6H, 1K, 6BB’s – Perry Bartley in relief in the
4th.
Game 3:
With a 1-1 record Niagara's third contest in the double knockout would be
against the 3rd seed, Innerkip Eagles. Innerkip’s bats were red hot in this
game as they would score in every inning but the 4th in this 6-inning mercy
shortened game. Perry Bartley took the mound for the Snappers and was the
victim of a Mike Pullin two run HR in the first and then another HR by
Pullin in the 2nd, this time a three run bomb. That was all the Eagles would
need, as Niagara would only be able to score 4 runs over 6 innings. Jay
Paylove came on in relief for the weary Snappers but the Eagles would
continue to bat around for an eventual 12-4 win. Trevor Falk continued to
swing a hot bat going 2-2 with a HR, single and a walk. Innerkips’ Mike
Pullin would finish the game with 2 HR's and 5 RBI’S. Tony Lisk went deep
with a HR in the 2nd and a single in the third for two RBI’s.
Innerkip 12
Niagara 4 (6-inning mercy)
WP: Dan Skillings – 4R, 7H, 4K’s, 4BB’s – Jamie Simpson in relief in the
5th.
LP: Perry Bartley – 2IP, 6R, 5H, 1K, 1BB – Jay Paylove in relief in the 3rd.
NOTES:
With their second loss, that put a period on the 2006 ISC Travel League
Season for the Niagara Snappers. The Snappers would like to thank Colin
Smith and the rest of the league executive for a fine season of fastball.
The grounds crew at Kitchener Park in Orillia did a great job at getting the
diamonds back in game shape after some torrential downpours on the Saturday
afternoon. Good job folks.
Congratulations to the Orillia Riversharks for a job well done. Lastly I
would personally like to thank Gordy Scott and the Palermo fellas who
stopped to help me after I blew a tire on HWY 400 while heading up to
Orillia on Saturday morning. Here in Niagara, we hold a saying dear to our
hearts specific to our team and the game we play. The saying is: “Good
guys…Great Game.” It is safe to say that there are allot of good guys out
there who play this great game and Gordy and the Palermo gang proved just
that. Thanks again.
Perry Bartley
Niagara Snappers
misterpaulo@hotmail.com
