A10

by Joanne Graham

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

Speak Up

JUNIOR BASEBALL — After taking down Moncton to earn a place in the provincial junior finals, the Chatham Junior Ironmen found themselves down two games in the best-of-five series by Sunday.

1 of 3

Daniel Martins photo

Brett Tracy-Gould leaps home Thursday, scoring the first run of the night for Chatham.

Daniel Martins photo

Dennis Graham keeps his eye on the ball as he prepares to swing Thursday night.

Despite a promising start with a lead-off single by Orry Cook and an RBI single by Dennis Graham in the first inning, the Junior Ironmen lost Game 1 Wednesday night, falling 7-1 to the Fredericton Junior Royals.

Orry Cook was the losing pitcher for Chatham; throwing five innings, striking out three, walking three, allowing four hits and seven runs. There were five errors and only four of the runs were earned. Matt Montrose took the mound in relief in the sixth inning, facing five and allowing just one hit. The other hits by the Ironmen were singles by Justin Cormier and Brett Tracey-Gould.

The Royals winning pitcher Troy Bishop also allowed four hits with three walks but the major differences were that he recorded 13 strikeouts and the team only committed two errors. The Royals began hitting in the third with a single by David Crossman and a 2 RBI homerun by Mark McNevin. Corey Hughes hit an RBI double in the fourth and a single in the sixth.

Game 2

Chatham lost a heartbreaker Thursday night, losing 3-4 against Fredericton.

David DeWolfe took the loss for Chatham, throwing a complete game, walking six, striking out one, allowing four hits and two earned runs. MacKenzie Washburn of the Royals was the only player who actually got any hits, going four for four with a double and three singles. Corey Hughes and Pat Dawson each recorded an RBI by reaching base on an error and Mark McNevin had the other two RBIs, one on a sacrifice bunt.

Scott MacFarlane went the distance on the mound for Fredericton and got the win. He allowed three runs on five hits and four walks, striking out 10. The Ironmen hits were all singles, by Tyler Cormier, Mark Lobban, David DeWolfe, Justin Cormier and Orry Cook. DeWolfe recorded an RBI, as did Dennis Graham on a sacrifice fly and Matt Lobban scored on a wild pitch. Although Chatham threatened in the seventh, getting the lead-off runner to second, they were unable to advance him to the plate.

Fredericton now leads the best of five series 2-0. The next game was scheduled for Sunday in Fredericton at 1:30 p.m.