Championship series underway in NDBL

August 29, 2011

The Bolton Brewers and New Lowell Knights played games one and two of the North Dufferin Baseball League senior championship series over the weekend. The Knights won both games and lead the best of seven series 2-0.

The Brewers who finished first overall in the regular season advanced to the finals by beating Orangeville Bengals in three straight games and second round opponents Aurora Jays. The latter series took seven games to determine a winner, with Bolton pulling out a win Friday night.

New Lowell finished third in regular season play and defeated the Ivy Leafs three games to two in the first round and Creemore Braves three games to one in the second round.

Game one of the championship series was played Saturday at Bolton. New Lowell won the game 1-0. The lone run was scored in the first inning and the remainder of the game featured a pitching duel between New Lowell's Steve Baldry and Bolton's Dave Corneilus.

Both pitchers threw complete games. Baldry gave up no runs on four hits, walked none and struck out 11 batters, while Corneilus over seven innings allowed one run, gave up two hits, walked three and recorded seven strikeouts.

Recording hits for the Knights were Sean Connor and Baldry, who led off the game with a double. The Brewers had hits from Mike Wallace, Shawn Chalmers, and Pat Warden who singled twice.

On Sunday, game two was played at New Lowell where New Lowell won by a score of 7-1. Bolton scored their only run in the first frame. New Lowell answered back and scored three runs on a two run homerun by Connor and a solo shot by Todd Patton. The Knights continued to plate runs with two in the third and two in the fourth inning.

The Knights ace pitcher Brandon Norrie threw a complete game allowing only one run, six hits, and one walk, while striking out nine Brewers. Greg Keenan pitched five innings for Bolton and gave up all seven runs, on seven hits, three walks, and managed three strikeouts. Chalmers threw the sixth inning giving up one hit in four batters faced.

Recording hits for New Lowell were Brent LaRose, Allan Brownridge, Dale Lightheart, Baldry with two singles, Patton with a home run and a double and home run by Connor.

Chalmers recorded a double, while Wallace and John Hutchinson both had two singles and Brett Chater had one hit for the Brewers.

The finals will be on hold until September 10, as both the Brewers and Knights are competing in provincials next weekend at Niagara Falls.