By Dan Estey
Canadian Baseball Network
The Burlington Brants had a very solid week in COBA Major League play as they went 2-0 with wins over the Niagara Metros in St. Catharines and the Oakville A’s at Nelson Park. With the two wins they ran their league record to 4-7 on the season good for 3rd place in the Johnson Division.

On Monday, the Brants gave the Niagara Metros all they could handle. The Metros got out of the gate early in this one putting up two runs in the second inning on two run scoring singles to take a 2-0 lead. That lead held up until the fifth inning when the Brants bats woke up against Metros RHP Brian Kusey. 

They were able to put up three runs on the young Niagara hurler to take a 3-2 lead into the sixth inning. After a scoreless sixth frame, Burlington was at it again putting up another two runs this time off of Metros RHP relief pitcher Lukas Burch to stretch their lead to 5-2. Not to be outdone, the Metros answered back quickly putting up a two spot of their own to cut the deficit to 5-4. 

Alas, that is as close as they would get as Burlington added an insurance run and Brants RHP Jordan Rienzo shut the door on the Metros in the ninth inning to preserve a 6-4 win. Ryan Colling picked up the win on the mound while Kusey was the loser for Niagara on this night.

After having a tight game on Monday, Wednesday was a completely different story as offense was the theme of this game at Nelson Park. the Brants put this one out of reach early as they touched up Oakville starter Michael Vanderlaan for 10 runs in only two innings of work. 

A trio of A’s hurlers followed him to the mound but Burlington was hitting everything in sight on this evening as they put up another two runs in the third, the in the fourth and two more in the fifth to build a commanding 17-2 lead after 5 innings of play. The resilient A’s didn’t go away though as they put up an big 8 run inning in the top of the 7th to cut the lead to 17-10. In the bottom of the seventh, the Burlington bats once again came alive as they put up 3 more runs to win the game 20-10. The game was stopped after the 7th inning due to the league mercy rule. Cam Ryerson was the beneficiary of all the runs as he collected his 3rd win of the year running his record to 3-2. OFs Tim Sogan and Corrie Morrison both belted home runs to lead the Burlington offense. 

Player of the Week C Jay Woodford of the Erindale Cardinals
Woodford played in two games this week for Erindale; a 10-4 loss to Mississauga SW and a 9-3 victory in Brampton. For his week, he was 3 for 9 (.333) with two singles and a big three-run home run. He drove in three runs while scoring three runs as well to cap off his productive week at the dish.

Woodford, who his genial skipper Greg Cranker has described as someone who at times has the best two jobs in the world (Misssissauga fireman and bouncer) is now hitting .289 (10 for 34) for his season with three singles, four doubles, a triple and the two home runs. He also has collected five RBIs and has scored an impressive 11 runs. 

Hononable Mention
Kyle Bowers (Etobicoke Rangers)
2 Games, .571 Avg, 7 AB, 4 Hits, 4 Singles, 2 RBI, 2 Runs, 1 Stolen Base

Brendan Emmett (Mississauga SW Twins)
1 Game, .500 Avg, 4 AB, 2 Hits, 2 Doubles, 1 Run, 3 RBI, 1 Walk

Pitcher of the Week RHP Billy Hurley of the Mississauga SW Twins.
Hurley had one appearance this week at home as he led the Twins to a 10-4 victory over the Erindale Cardinals. In this game, he went 6 innings allowing no runs while allowing only 1 hit. He walked no one, struck out 4 And actually had a perfect game going until he allowed a hit with 2 outs in the 6th inning.

Hurley now sits at 3-0 on the season with a 1.09 ERA. In his 17 1/3 innings of work, he has allowed only 2 runs (both earned) on 10 hits while collecting 11 strikeouts and 4 walks. Congratulations to Billy Hurley; the Week 6 COBA Major League Pitcher of the Week.

Hononable Mention
Kevin Breitner (Etobicoke Rangers)
1 Game, 0 Win, 0 Losses, 4 Innings, 2 Hits, 0 Run, 0 Earned Run, 0.00 ERA, 1 Walk, 2 Ks

Brendan Fox (Erindale Cardinals)
1 Game, 1 Win, 0 Losses, 7 2/3 Innings, 7 Hits, 3 Runs, 2 Earned Runs, 2.34 ERA, 2 Walks, 4 Ks

Monday, June 6th
Milton Red Sox vs. Erindale Cardinals ppd rain

Mississauga SW Twins vs. Oakville A’s ppd rain 

George Taylor Field R   H   E
Burlington Brants    6    10    0
Niagara Metros    4    13    0
Winning Pitcher – Ryan Colling. Losing Pitcher – Brian Kusey. Save – Jordan Rienzo

Tuesday
Clarkson Park R   H   E
Erindale Cardinals    4    7    3
Mississauga SW Twins    10    11    2
Winning Pitcher – Billy Hurley. Losing Pitcher – Mike Morely

Wednesday
Nelson Park R   H   E
Oakville A’s    10    8    5
Burlington Brants    20    12    2
Winning Pitcher – Cam Ryerson. Losing Pitcher – Michael Vanderlaan
HR – Tim Sogan, Corrie Morrison (Burlington)

Milton Sports Complex R   H   E
Etobicoke Rangers    8    13    4
Milton Red Sox    2    7    2
Winning Pitcher – Tyler Whealy, Losing Pitcher – Ian Zettle

Thursday
Dave Dash Memorial Field R   H   E
Erindale Cardinals    9    11    2
Brampton Royals    3    8    3
Winning Pitcher – Brendan Fox. Losing Pitcher – Ryan Thompson. Save – Andrew Mullin
HR – Jay Woodford (Erindale)

Friday
Connorvale Park R   H   E
Niagara Metros    4    10    3
Etobicoke Rangers    8    11    1
Winning Pitcher – Kyle Breitner, Losing Pitcher – Ryan Bench.