Championship series tied after opening weekend
The Bolton Brewers and New Lowell Knights split the first two games of the Strother Cup final on the weekend in North Dufferin Baseball League action.
New Lowell took a 4-3 win in eight innings for Game 1, while the Brewers hammered the Knights 12-0 in the second game.
The Knights scored early in Game 1 with two runs crossing the plate in the first, followed by a third run in the second frame.
It wasn’t until the fifth inning the Brewers got on the scoreboard with a lone run, followed by another run in the sixth and the tying run in the seventh.
Heading into extra innings, New Lowell plated the winning run and held the Brewers in their half of the eighth inning.
Brandon Norrie and Sid Beelen both hit two singles and Dale Lightheart chipped in with one for the Knights.
Mike Wallace had two singles for the Brewers while teammates Brett Chater, Chris Fafalios, Stephen Warden, Amin Juarez and John Hutchinson each singled.
New Lowell’s ace Nick Hodgson toed the rubber for all eight innings, giving up three runs on seven hits, walking four, and striking out four.
Aaron Dzib pitched for Bolton giving up four runs on five hits, walking seven, hitting one batter, and fanning six.
In Game 2 the Brewers started with the long-ball to get runs early, including a solo shot from Chater and Drew Volkey. Warden hit a homer in the sixth inning.
Bolton plated a lone run in the second frame and up until the end of the sixth it remained a 4-0 game.
The seventh inning saw the Knights fall apart while the Brewers scored eight more runs.
Bolton outhit New Lowell 16- 4. Chater led the charge hitting a homer and two singles with Volkey and Warden each hitting a home run and single. Logan Hart and Greg Keenan hit two singles and Fafalios, Hutchinson, Josh Hickey, Nathan Drury, and Mike Bonsignore all singled for the winning side.
Steve Bowman hit a single and double and Beelen and Brett Elliott hit a single for New Lowell.
Bolton’s Victor Moguel silenced the New Lowell bats with four hits, three walks, and seven strikeouts over his complete game on the hill.
Steve Baldry started on the mound for New Lowell and over six innings allowed six runs on ten hits, one walk and two strikeouts. He started the seventh inning but was relieved after two batters when Nic Guthrie entered. Guthrie pitched three batters, giving up three runs on two hits and a walk before he was relieved.
Jake Nicholson pitched the remainder of the game giving up three runs on four hits, walking one and fanning two.
The series resumes Saturday in Bolton at 1 p.m. and then to New Lowell for 1 p.m. on Sunday in the best of seven series.
David Anderson photo: Sid Beelen of the New Lowell Knights slides back to second base before the tag from a pick-off attempt from Amin Juarez of the Bolton Brewers during a Sept. 10 game.
