A9

by Blake Lynch

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SOFTBALL — They didn't make it easy on themselves, but when the final out had been called the Marysville Silver Bullets stood as the 2008 New Brunswick Men's Intermediate Provincial Champions last weekend. After going 2-1 on Aug. 16 during round robin play, they needed a win to guarantee themselves a spot in the playoff round.

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Blake Lynch photos

The 2008 NB Intermediate Men's Fast Pitch Provincial Champions, the Marysville Silver Bullets, pose with their plaque after the final on Sunday.

Marysville's Randy Bell slides into home to tie the game 3-3 in the seventh inning of Sunday's final. Marysville went on to take the NB Intermediate Men's Provincials 5-3 in extra innings.

Coady Street's Joey Daley puts one by a Marysville batter in semifinal action Saturday.

On Aug. 17, Marysville took on the Eel Ground Eagles, who were looking to stay alive and improve to 2-2, and they almost pulled off the upset victory. They had a 5-2 lead after four but Marysville would not die. They scored one in the fifth and three in the top of the seventh to take the lead 6-5. Eel Ground looked as though they would tie it up in the bottom half when a sharply hit ball went out to centre with a runner on second. However, it was not to be as the outfielder made a tough catch and easily doubled up the runner who had already rounded third to solidify the comeback.

In the other round robin game on Sunday, the Richibucto Anchors drubbed Coady Street 12-5, which created a three-way tie for first place as Richibucto, Coady Street and Marysville all finished with 3-1 records. Eel Ground (1-3) and and Blackville (0-4) were eliminated. Richibucto earned the bye to the championship game via the tie breaker setting up a semi-final match-up between Marysville and Coady Street.

Once again Marysville didn't make it easy on themselves as Coady Street jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first. They put three on the board in the fourth to tie it up but Coady Street pulled away once again with four more runs in the bottom half for the 7-3 lead. After a scoreless sixth, Marysville headed into the seventh down 7-4 and were able to pull even once again and hold Coady Street to send the game into extra innings.

In extras, starting a runner at second base, Marysville pushed a run across the board and were once again able to hold their opponents scoreless, stranding the tying run on third for the 8-7 win.

The win set up a championship match with the Anchors which proved to be just as entertaining as the semi-final. Marysville and Richibucto held each other off the scoreboard for the first three innings until finally Richibucto was able to put one across in the fourth. Marysville quickly replied with a run of their own in the fifth but Richibucto answered with two more in the bottom half for the 3-1 lead. After another scoreless inning in the sixth the Anchors needed to shut down Marysville for the win but once again the pesky squad would tie the game in the seventh with two runs and hold the Anchors to force another game into extra innings.

In extras Marysville's Ken Brawn hit a two run home run in the top half of the inning to put them up 5-3 and once again the Silver Bullets were able to hold their opponents scoreless to clinch the win and the title.

In making it to the final both Marysville and Richibucto have earned the right to attend the Intermediate A and B Men's Easterns in Donnaconna, Que., Sept. 5-7. Third and fourth place Coady Street and Eel Ground have the right to go to the Intermediate C Men's Easterns in Sydney, N.S., also taking place Sept. 5-7.