Brewers make history

Five straight wins North Dufferin Baseball League secretary Scott Anderson, centre, presents the Strother Cup to Nathan Robinson, Paul Cardarelli, Greg Keenan, and Owen Somervile of the Bolton Brewers during a post-game presentation on Thursday Sept. 19. The Brewers are the first team in league history to win five consecutive championships. (David Anderson photo)   2013 N.D.B.L. Senior Champs - Bolton Brewers Back Row, l-r: Eric Cirone, Trent Barwick, John Hutchinson, Pat Warden, Brett Barwick, Paul Cardarelli, Owen Somervile, Brett Bond, Steve Warden, Brett Chater, Nathan Robinson. Front Row, l-r: Matt Blacklaws, Mark Horan, Mike Blackwood, Nick Hodgson, Greg Keenan, Mike Wallace, Ryan Smith, Adam Wallace. Missing from photo: Daryl Bond and Shawn Chalmers. (David Anderson photo)

September 21, 2013

The Bolton Brewers of the North Dufferin Baseball League made history Thursday night when they defeated the Aurora Jays in game five 4-0 to claim their fifth Strother Cup. Not in the 84 year history of the League has a team won five consecutive championships.

The Shelburne team of the 1950s and the Creemore Braves during the 2000s are the only other teams to have won four straight titles.

Playing light malfunctions delayed the final game for about 45 minutes and eventually the game was moved to another diamond at the Bolton sports complex.

The first three innings of play resulted in no runs scored. However, Aurora seemed to have the upper hand stranding five runners on base before the Bolton team scored a run in the fourth inning. The Brewers continued to press on, scoring one more run in the fifth and two runs in the sixth inning to win the contest 4-0.

The Jays battled throughout the game, but could not cash in base runners stranding another five in the last three innings.

Pat Warden earned the win for the Brewers, throwing four and two-thirds innings giving up only two hits, six walks and striking out seven Jays. Trent Barwick finished the game going two and one-thirds innings allowing no runs, one hit, and one walk while striking out three.

Aurora's Ian Milne pitched six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, one walk, one hit batter and recorded no strikeouts.

Bolton coach Mike Wallace thought it was a great series between his team and the Jays. "It was a tough fought series. I give a lot of credit to Aurora. There wasn't an easy game."

"Pretty impressive," Wallace said about the fifth straight championship. "I personally didn't think we would do this. I know it is tough to do in any league, so I'm quite happy."

Following the game, league president Rob Wilson and statistician Pete Kinghan presented the inaugural Paul Carruthers Memorial Award for the Playoff Most Valuable Player to Brett Chater of the Bolton Brewers.

League secretary Scott Anderson presented the Strother Cup to the championship team represented by Nathan Robinson, Paul Cardarelli, Greg Keenan, and Owen Somervile.