New Lowell Knights still in the thick of things
Over the long illustrious history of the North Dufferin Baseball League, the league has transformed from villages and hamlets employing ball players to challenge other teams in the countryside to the current day where smaller cities play against smaller towns, villages and even hamlets.
Over the decades, New Lowell Knights have almost always been in the thick of things.
Back in the 1970s, New Lowell housed some special teams winning several championships.
They have had some very good teams since then but have always come against a powerhouse.
In this decade, the Bolton Brewers won five straight Strother Cups. In the previous decade, Creemore Braves under the management of Pete ‘Hammer’ Kinghan won four straight. Creemore Barons in the 1990s were the hotshots. Before them the youngsters from Stayner beat everyone for three or four years.
Now don’t get me wrong, New Lowell has won.
In fact, the place that I refer to as the “mecca of baseball” in Simcoe County has hoisted the hardware seven times.
Back in 1977, the Knights totally out-classed the opposition and ran away with the league and the championship. It would be just fitting for such a storied team to win for more than just one or two consecutive years but to win three or four straight.
Hammer Kinghan is now their coach and he knows how to win. He has put together a team that is off to a 6-0 start for the 2015 season.
When Kinghan was with the Creemore Braves he smooth talked ball players from around the district to come play for him and be a winner. It looks like he is up to his old tricks.
Perhaps his biggest move was convincing home run slugger Todd Gowan to change alliances and leave the Ivy Leafs, where he won a Cup last year, to be a Knight. Gowan is also a half decent pitcher.
Sunday the lanky hitter/hurler took to the mound against the Creemore Barons and didn’t pitch his best game over five innings but got the win.
He and Allan Brownridge gave up 11 hits in a 16-8 victory.
Their counterparts on the Barons also allowed 11 hits and had to use four pitchers to get through the seven-inning contest.
Liam Jacques took the loss. He is typically a rock solid pitcher but Sunday wasn’t his day. He gave up two hits, five walks and seven runs without getting an out to start the game. New Lowell ended up scoring nine runs in a first inning onslaught.
Gowan and Brownridge led the New Lowell batters by hitting doubles each.
On the positive side for the Barons, they were able to hit the ball out of the park. Dyer Boyne and Sean Ellis each smacked two-run homers while Glenn Patterson tallied a three-run shot.
New Lowell also played the Nobleton Cornhuskers last Thursday and needed a strong finish to beat the 0-5 Huskers. The Knights scored five runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth to win 11-1, a lopsided finish but actually a half decent game if you consider that after four innings
New Lowell held a slim 2-1 lead. Gowan slugged a home run and Chad Purchase and Jesse Metheral each had two-baggers.
Ryan Bartley went the distance throwing eight strikeouts and giving up four hits.
Finally, with baseball starting hockey should be finishing but not in this hockey-mad country. Stayner Siskins are hosting their June rookie camp at the Wasaga Beach Arena Saturday, June 27 from noon to 5 p.m. and June 28 for goalies from noon until 1 p.m. and forwards and defencemen from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For more info contact: Richard Gauthier – goach11@hotmail.com or Steve Walker – hotwalker27@aol.com. Cost is $120. See form on Siskins website, try-out page, to register.
In other notable games last week, the Clearview Orioles beat the Barrie Angels on May 20, 8-1; and Tyler Linger out duelled Ethan Henry to give the Mansfield Cubs a 2-0 victory over the 1-4 Creemore Braves.
Creemore Barons are off to a 4-1 start in the senior division. Their namesake also has a 4-1 record in the junior division.
