Baysox lead 3-1 in NDBL championship series

The Owen Sound Baysox are one win away from clinching the Strother Cup in the North Dufferin Baseball League after winning two games over the weekend.

Both championship games ended with a 4-3 score as the Baysox swept the weekend contests against their rival Ivy Rangers and now lead the best-of-seven series 3-1.

Game 3 on Saturday evening in Owen Sound remained scoreless until the fifth inning when the Baysox scored two runs. They added two more in the sixth frame.

Ivy managed a single run in their half of the sixth and plated two more runs in the seventh, putting pressure on the Baysox defence up to the last out.

Ivy’s Ryan Barr hit a double, Brett Scott hit two singles and Josh Wilkins, Charlie Jeans, and Parker Walker had singles for the losing side.

Owen Sound’s Kirk Gibson hit a double and single, Ryan McNeil hit a double and Paul Van Cedar and Wayland Wilson hit singles.

Matt Barr started on the hill for the Rangers, striking out five batters in just two innings, allowing one hit, walking one and hitting one batter.

Due to injury, he was pulled and replaced with Wes Kobelka who pitched three innings, giving up two runs on two hits, walking two and fanning two.

Jarrett Vanderpost pitched one inning allowing two runs on two hits and striking out one.

Nate Kramer went the distance for Owen Sound, allowing three runs on six hits, walking three, hitting two and striking out eight in his seven innings of work.

The teams met for Game 4, also in Owen Sound on Sunday afternoon.

Owen Sound plated an early run in the first inning. The Rangers responded and scored two runs off a Ryan Barr homer in the top of the second to take the lead.

In the third frame, the Baysox scored two runs, the first crossing the plate when Wilson stole home on an attempted suicide squeeze play. He reached the plate after the ball hit off the catcher.

The Rangers tied the game in the fifth but it was short lived as the Baysox scored the winning run when Bryan Post crossed the plate in their half of the inning. Owen Sound had three doubles in the game from Robert Doyle, Wilson and Post. Kevin Zettler hit two singles and Greg Slater chipped in with a single.Ryan Barr led the way for the Rangers with his homer and a double while teammates Wilkins, Jeans, Scott and Riley Davies hit singles.

Trevor Smith was given the nod on the mound, pitching 4 2/3 innings for the Baysox. He allowed three runs on five hits, walking one, and striking out four.

Doyle was brought in for relief in the fifth frame and pitched the remainder of the game giving up no runs, one hit, three walks, hitting one batter, and striking out three.

Jamie Gillespie pitched six innings for the Rangers, allowing four runs on six hits, walking three and striking out eight.

The Baysox look to Game 5 in Ivy on Saturday at 2 p.m. to win their first Strother Cup title. An Ivy win sets up Game 6 on Sunday, also in Ivy at 2 p.m.