Owen Sound wins first Strother Cup
The Owen Sound Baysox are the new champions of the North Dufferin Baseball League after winning 9-6 in Game 5 over the Ivy Rangers on Sept. 21.
Owen Sound went into the game ahead 3-1 in the best-of-seven final series looking for their first championship title in the team’s young history of only three years in the league.
In the first inning, the Baysox scored a single run. Ivy answered in the third frame by scoring two runs and then plated two more runs in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead.
In the fifth inning, the Baysox bats came alive with seven hits, including a two-run homer from Paul Van Cedar. At the end of the inning, seven runs crossed the plate to make it an 8-4 game.
The Rangers kept the score close, scoring two runs in the sixth before the Baysox added an additional run in the top of the seventh.
Down three runs, the Rangers batters went three-up, three-down in the bottom of the seventh for Owen Sound to claim their first-ever league championship victory.
In total, the Baysox out hit the Rangers 12-6 with Robert Doyle hitting a double and two singles, Van Cedar with a home run and single, Ryan McNeil and Greg Slater with two singles and Bryan Post, Ryan Bartley, and Wade Walsh each with one hit.
Ivy hits included a home run from Noah Sauder, a double from Ryan Barr, two singles from Jake Banner, and singles by Charlie Jeans and Parker Walker.
Matt Barr, the workhorse for Ivy, started on the mound going 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on six hits, walking five, hitting two batters, while striking out seven.
Jarrett Vanderpost came in relief for 2 1/3 innings, giving up four runs, six hits, and walking one batsman.
Baysox ace Trevor Smith pitched a complete game giving up six runs on six hits, walking one, while striking out six Rangers.
In the post-game presentation Owen Sound’s Slater was named playoff MVP and was presented with the Paul Carruthers Memorial Award from former executive member Peter Kinghan.
League secretary Scott Anderson congratulated both teams on their respective season and presented the father-son duo Don and Ryan Bartley with the Strother Cup.
David Anderson photo: North Dufferin Baseball League secretary Scott Anderson (centre) presents the Strother Cup to Don Bartley (left) and Ryan Bartley of the Owen Sound Baysox.