Knights win back-to-back championships
The New Lowell Knights won the North Dufferin Baseball League senior championship Sunday winning Game 6, 3-1 over the Bolton Brewers. The Knights win defended their 2022 title.
The best-of-seven series had the Knights up 3-1 heading into the weekend but the resilient Bolton Brewers took an 8-2 win Saturday afternoon to force Game 6.
Bolton opened Game 5 with a single run in the first inning swiftly followed by the Knights plating two runs in their half when Sid Beelen hit a two-run shot.
The strong offense of the Brewers continued in the second inning when John Hutchinson hit a two run homer. A five-run fifth inning forced Knights’ pitcher Nick Hodgson from the game.
Hutchinson also chipped in with a single as did Brett Chater, Chris Volkey, Chris Fafalios, Amin Juarez, and Carter Burnside.
New Lowell hits went to Beelen with the homer, Steve Bowman with a double and single, Brandon Norrie with two singles and lone hits from Tanner Zeggil and Mack Morrish.
Hodgson pitched four and two-third innings for the Knights, giving up eight runs on six hits, walked four, hit one batter, and struck out three.
Steve Baldry came in for relief, finishing the game with one hit and four strikeouts.
Victor Moguel toed the rubber for Bolton, pitching all seven innings, allowing two runs on seven hits, one walk, while striking out two batters.
On Sunday, the Brewers scored their only run in the first inning, before Norrie, in one of his best performances of the year, retired six batters and allowed five hits with one walk over his seven innings of work.
New Lowell scored a run in the fourth to tie the game and in the sixth inning Dale Lightheart singled and eventually scored from second base on a Zeggil double.
The third run came in the top of the seventh when Nic Guthrie crossed the plate during a Bolton errant throw to first base.
The Knights out-hit the Brewers with Bowman and Brett Elliott hitting two singles, Zeggil’s double, and singles from Jake Nicholson, Chris Greer, Beelen, and Lightheart.
Bolton veteran player and coach Mike Wallace hit two singles for the losing side. Chater hit a double and Stephen Warden and Juarez chipped in with singles.
Aaron Dzib took the loss for the Brewers as he pitched all seven innings, gave up three runs on nine hits, walked two and hit two batters. He fanned seven Knights.
During a post-game presentation, Bowman was named the most valuable player of the playoffs and received the Paul Carruthers Memorial Award from his coach Peter Kinghan.
League secretary Scott Anderson was on hand to present the Strother Cup to Nicholson, Norrie, and Jesse McIntyre of the Knights.
David Anderson photo: The New Lowell Knights won the North Dufferin Baseball League’s Strother Cup Sept. 24. From left: coach Peter Kinghan, Steve Bowman, Cory Halliday, Dale Lightheart, Mack Morrish, Chris Rettie, Mark Loader, Nick Hodgson, Nic Guthrie, Sean Connor, Jesse McIntyre. Front row, from left: Brett Elliott, Sid Beelen, Brandon Norrie, Kurt Roy, Chris Greer, Steve Baldry, Jake Nicholson, Tanner Zeggil, and Todd VanLieshout.
