New Lowell Knights defend title

 In Sports

A 4-1 win over the Orangeville Giants have crowned the New Lowell Knights as North Dufferin Baseball League champions for a second straight year.

The champions hoisted the Strother Cup on Sunday afternoon needing all seven games in the series to bring down the Giants.

But before the Knights were able to claim the title they had to defeat Orangeville, who had the series lead, on Saturday for game six.

The Knights downed the Giants 8-2 scoring two runs early in the first inning, adding one in the second, two in the fourth and one each in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings.

Orangeville was able to tie the game after the first frame with two runs of their own, but were unable to capitalize leaving eight runners stranded on base during the game.

Homeruns were the highlight of the Knights offense. Brandon Norrie homered twice including a two-run shot. Steve Baldry hit one out of the park to score two and Todd Patton connected with a pitch in the seventh to the score the final run.

Sean Thompson doubled while Allan Brownridge, Sean Connor and Patton hit singles for the Knights.

Mitchell Pike doubled while Brett Chater and Drew Huerter each singled twice for the Giants. Ian MacIver and Daryl Bond recorded singles.

Brownridge pitched seven innings for the Knights allowing two runs on seven hits. He walked two, hit two Orangeville batters and fanned six.

Nick Hodgson was on the Orangeville hill for five innings giving up six runs on seven hits, walked one, hit one batter and struck out three.

Matt Drury came in for the sixth and seventh inning allowing two runs on three hits and walked two Knights.

Sunday action for the final game was a closer affair for the first two innings. In the third inning New Lowell manufactured a run executing a suicide squeeze from Chris Greer to bring in Jake Nicholson to score the first run. Greer was able to beat the throw to first base as well.

Orangeville tied the game in the fifth inning when Bond scored on a Chater double but the Knights quickly answered in their half of the inning scoring three on two homeruns. With a runner on base Todd Gowan hit a two-run shot, with the next batter Todd Patton hitting a solo shot to make the game 4-1.

The Knights had six hits including the two homeruns, a double from Thompson and Nicholson and singles from Greer and Norrie.

The Giants were limited to four hits with Bond connecting for two singles, Chater a double and Hodgson a single.

Baldry commanded the Knights hill and pitched a complete game, allowing one run on four hits, walked two Giants and struck out three.

Chater pitched for Orangeville for five innings giving up four runs on six hits, walked two and hit three Knights while striking out two.

Hodgson pitched the sixth inning unscathed.

In a post game presentation New Lowell’s Gowan was named the most valuable player for the playoffs and received the Paul Carruthers Memorial Award from league president Chris Esson.

Pete Kinghan and Dale Lightheart accepted the Strother Cup from league secretary and series convenor Scott Anderson.

David Anderson photo: The New Lowell Knights claimed their second-straight championship on Sept. 25, 2016. Pictured back row, from left: coach Pete Kinghan, Sean Connor, Todd Gowan, Todd Patton, Brandon Norrie, Allan Brownridge, Jesse McIntyre. Front row, from left: Dale Lightheart, Sean Thompson, Chris Greer, Caleb Lightheart (batboy), Steve Baldry, Jake Nicholson, Trevor Martin. Missing from the photo are Kyle Ascai, Dan Holwell, Brayden Hubbert and Todd VanLieshout.

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