Knights, Brewers split weekend games
The New Lowell Knights and Bolton Brewers played the first two games of a best-of-seven championship series over the weekend.
The Knights took Game 1 with a 4-3 ball game on Saturday while the Brewers took Game 2, 9-5 on Sunday.
A 10-inning game on Saturday started the series between the two teams. The Knights scored two runs in the third and one in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead.
In the fifth frame, Bolton scored two runs on a Daniel Accardo homer and then tied it in the sixth on a Stephen Warden home run.
After the regulation seven innings the game entered extras and ended in the bottom of the tenth when the Knights loaded the bases and the winning run scored from a walk.
Brett Elliott of New Lowell led the way with three singles during the game. Tanner Zeggil, Brandon Norrie, Dale Lightheart, and Chris Greer hit two singles each and Sid Beelen and Jake Nicholson chipped in with a base hit.
In addition to the home run, Warden also hit a single for the Brewers. Mike Wallace and Amin Juorez had two hits apiece and Chris Fafalios and John Hutchinson singled.
The Knights hill was commanded by Brandon Norrie for eight innings. He gave up three runs on nine hits, walked one and struck out seven Brewers.
Steve Baldry pitched the last two innings with two strikeouts.
Nick Hodgson started on the mound for the Brewers and pitched five and two-thirds, allowed three runs on nine hits, walked one, hit three batters, and struck out three.
Nick Pettinaro pitched the remainder of the game with one run allowed on four hits, four walks and one strike out.
The long ball was the difference maker for the Brewers in Game 2, winning the contest 9-5 on Sunday.
The Knights opened with three runs in the first inning but the Brewers came back with three of their own including a solo home run from Drew Volkey in the bottom of the inning.
In the second frame, Bolton plated a run which was answered by New Lowell in their half of the third to tie the game again.
In the fourth, with a runner on base Volkey homered to score two for the Brewers. Another three runs were scored in the fifth to make it a 9-4 game.
The Knights cashed a lone run in the seventh.
Bolton’s Volkey hit a double in addition to his two home runs, Warden doubled and singled twice, Accardo hit three singles, Fafalios doubled and Hutchinson and Juorez contributed with a single.
Steve Bowman for New Lowell hit two triples, Zeggil hit two singles and Elliott, Norrie, Greer, and Sean Connor all singled.
Toeing the rubber for Bolton was Trent Barwick. He pitched six and one-third of the game, allowed five runs on eight hits, walked two and struck out three Knights.
Victor Moguel entered the game for the last two outs.
New Lowell’s Baldry pitched four innings. He gave up seven runs on nine hits, hit one batter and struck out one.
Kurt Roy pitched two innings, gave up two runs on three hits and walked three.
The championship series will pause for the Labour Day weekend as both Bolton and New Lowell along with five other teams from the league participate in provincial championships.
Game 3 of the series will be played Sept. 10 in New Lowell with Game 4 on Sept. 11 in Bolton. Game times are 1 p.m.
