Barons lead series 2-0

He's Out! Creemore Barons' Jake Nicholson is out at first base as the throw to Ivy Rangers' Jarrett Vanderpost arrives a split-second before. (David Anderson photo)

August 7, 2015

The Creemore Barons lead the junior division championship series 2-0 over the Ivy Rangers.

Creemore picked up a 1-0 win Wednesday and followed it with a 3-2 victory on Thursday night.

Game one on Wednesday in Creemore was a tight match with the game scoreless after six innings of play. Each team had chances early in the game stranding men on base. It wasn't until the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded for Creemore that an errant Ivy throw to first base, allowed the winning run to score.

Creemore mustered five hits in the game while Ivy had eight. Ivy also left nine runners stranded on the base paths.

Ricky Darrel and Kurt Roy each had two singles for the Barons while Jake Nicholson hit a double. Ivy had hits from Konner Smith, John Malarczyk, Jarrett Vanderpost, Cory Scott, Brett Scott, and Alex Banski. Justin MacTavish had two singles.

Vanderpost toed the rubber for the Rangers and gave up the one run, five hits, walked one batter, and had five strikeouts.

Adam Van der Heyden pitched for Creemore allowing no runs on eight hits, two walks, while fanning four batters.

Game two on Thursday in Ivy also went to Creemore in a close 3-2 ball game.

Creemore scored first in the second inning when Josh Wilkins crossed the plate. In the fourth frame both Jamie Gillespie and Wilkins scored for the Barons to take a 3-0 lead.

It wasn't until the fifth inning when Ivy managed to plate runs. With MacTavish on base, Smith hit a homerun to bring the contest within one. After the homerun, the Rangers loaded the bases but were unable to capitalize and were shut out in the last two innings.

Pitching duties went to Colton Gratto for the Rangers and Kurt Roy for the Barons.

Gratto gave up three runs on six hits, hit one batsman, walked two and struck out six.

Roy gave up two runs, four hits, and seven walks while hitting one batter. He also had 11 strikeouts, five of those in the last two innings.

For the Rangers, Connor had the homerun along with a single. MacTavish and Riley Davies also singled in the losing cause.

Cole Newton, Wilkins, and Garner Spoljeric had singles while Nicholson had two singles. Gillespie hit a double.

The best of five affair picks up again on Monday when the two teams meet in Creemore. Game time is 6:15 p.m.