New Lowell and Bolton split games

September 12, 2011

Over the weekend the New Lowell Knights and Bolton Brewers played games three and four of the North Dufferin Baseball League Championship Series. The Knights won game three 6-1, and the Brewers won game four 4-3. New Lowell leads the best of seven series three games to one.

On Saturday, both teams travelled to Lisle for game three to coincide with the League's annual awards event. New Lowell got out to an early lead scoring two runs in the first. The game remained close for the next three innings until the Knights Todd Patton hit a three run home run in the fifth. New Lowell scored one more in the sixth to lead by six. Bolton managed one run in the seventh inning off a solo home run by Adam Wallace, to make the final score 6-1 for the Knights.

Pitching for Bolton was Mike Blackwood, who over five innings of work, gave up five runs, seven hits, walked two and struck out four. Greg Keenan relieved Blackwood in the sixth throwing two complete innings and gave up one run, one hit, walked one and struck out one. Brandon Norrie threw a complete game for the Knights allowing one run, four hits, three walks and struck out 11.

Shawn Chalmers and Stephen Warden recorded hits while Adam Wallace singled and homered for Bolton. Patton hit his second homerun of the series, Steve Baldry and Ryan Martin each had two hits, Norrie doubled and Sean Connor and Allan Brownridge singled for New Lowell.

New Lowell hosted game four on Sunday needing one more win to secure the championship. Bolton scored one run in the first, which was quickly matched by a leadoff home run by Steve Baldry in New Lowell's half of the first frame. The Knights plated two more in the second, with the Brewers bringing the score within one in the third inning. New Lowell maintained the 3-2 lead over the next three innings. In the seventh frame the Brewers capitalised on two New Lowell errors and scratched out two runs to take the lead and then held off the Knights in their half of the inning for a 4-3 victory.

Paul Cardarelli pitched for the Brewers and gave up three runs, eight hits, two walks, and recorded two strikeouts. Baldry pitched for the Knights and over his seven innings allowed four runs, six hits, two walks and had three strikeouts.

Recording hits for Bolton were Mike Wallace, Eric Cirone, John Hutchinson, Chalmers, and Stephen Warden while Brett Chater doubled. New Lowell had singles from Martin and Norrie, doubles from Brownridge and Dale Marsden who also recorded a single and a single and home run by Baldry.

Game five of the series will be played at Bolton on Saturday, Sept. 17 starting at 12 noon and if necessary New Lowell will host game six on Sunday at 1 p.m.