Milton Gets Off to Hot Start in COBA Major League
By Dan Estey
Canadian Baseball Network
The Milton Red Sox picked up where they left off last season winning two of their first three games in 2016. Last summer the Sox had a good run at the Ontario Senior eliminations in Windsor finishing with a 3-2 record and narrowly losing to Windsor on Sunday afternoon. They carried that momentum back into league play as they finished the regular season with two more wins and then promptly went 5-1 in the playoffs winning the COBA Major League playoff title. 

This season they kicked off their schedule at home where they faced the Burlington Barnts defeating them by a score of 4-1. Three Milton hurlers worked on the mound as veteran Ian Zettle started. He was followed by Chris Cloes and then Steve Jablonski, who picked up the win, finished up. At the plate, the Sox were lead by 2B Don Smith would had three hits, an RBI, and two stolen bases. DH Kevin Greer went 1 for 2 with a double, walk and an RBI as well. 

That Monday, Milton made the trek to Greg Cranker Field to take on coach Greg Cranker’s Big Red Machine. The Sox jumped out to an early 5-1 lead before the Cards started to get to Milton starter Liam Tennant and got it back to a 5-4 game. The Red Sox then exploded for seven runs in the next two innings highlighted by a solo homer by third baseman Alex Martinez. RHP Justin Volpato, who entered into the game in the fifth inning, was the beneficiary of all of the offence grabbing the win in relief of Tennant. 

Now sitting at 2-0, the Milton crew made the Trek to Connorvale Park to face on the Etobicoke Rangers managed by Steve Breitner. Both teams put on a show in this one as the pitching and defense took center stage. Milton managed to plate a run in the first off of Rangers starter Andrew Perryman and then the offensive for both teams went silent until the ninth inning when Etobicoke staged a late rally to tie the game up and send it off to extra innings. 

In the bottom of the 10th inning, Etobicoke was able to push across another run off of hard luck loser Martinez and the Rangers prevailed 2-1. Kyle Breitner grabbed the win for Etobicoke while rookie Mike Asta drove in the game winning RBI with a single in the 10th.

COBA Pitcher of the Week _ RHP Paul McKenna of the Mississauga SW Twins.
McKenna got his season off to a strong start picking up the victory in his only appearance of the week in Brampton. In this game, he went five scoreless innings and only giving up three hits. He didn’t walk any batters and struck out five in pushing his season record to 1-0.

Hononable Mention
Kevin Breitner (Etobicoke Rangers)
2 Games, 1 Win, 0 Losses, 4 Innings, 4 Hits, 0 Runs, 0.00 ERA, 0 Walks, 1 K

Jordan Rienzo (Burlington Brants)
3 Games, 0 Wins, 0 Losses, 1 Save, 6 Innings, 3 Hits, 0 Runs, 0.00 ERA, 1 Walk, 7 Ks
Friday, May 6th

COBA Player of the Week _ SS Jamie Smith of the Mississauga SW Twins.
Smith was instrumental in getting the Twins off to a 2-0 start to their season which saw wins against the Brampton Royals (22-0) and Etobicoke Rangers (12-2). For his week, he went 9 for 11 (.778 Avg) with 7 singles and 2 doubles. He scored 6 runs while driving in a 5 RBI. He walked two times and also stole 2 bases.

Hononable Mention
Jono Marcheterre (Niagara Metros)
2 Games, .750 Avg, 4 AB, 3 Hits, 2 Doubles, 3 Runs, 4 RBI, 3 Walks, 1 Stolen Base

Kevin Greer (Milton Red Sox)
3 Games, .500 Avg, 12 AB, 6 Hits, 2 Doubles, 2 Runs, 4 RBI

Linescore
Friday, May 6
Connorvale Park R H E
Erindale Cardinals 2 7 0
Etobicoke Rangers 14 12 1
Winning Pitcher – Kevin Breitner. Losing Pitcher – Ian Bala

Saturday, May 7th
Milton Sports Complex R H E
Burlington Brants 1 7 0
Milton Red Sox 4 8 1
Winning Pitcher – Steve Jablonski. Losing Pitcher – Trevor Woodjetts

Monday, May 9th
Greg Cranker Field R H E
Milton Red Sox 13 16 0
Erindale Cardinals 9 9 2
Winning Pitcher – Justin Volpato. Losing Pitcher – John DeWolfe
HR – Alex Martinez (Milton); Jay Woodford (Erindale)

Oakville Park R H E
Burlington Brants 6 4 1
Oakville A’s 5 7 3
Winning Pitcher – Cam Ryerson. Losing Pitcher – Matt Reagan

Tuesday, May 10th
Clarkson Park R H E
Etobicoke Rangers 2 8 2
Mississauga SW Twins 12 12 0
Winning Pitcher – James Byrnes. Losing Pitcher – Adam McBride

Wednesday, May 11th
Nelson Park R H E
Niagara Metros 12 15 1
Burlington Brants 5 6 4
Winning Pitcher – Geoff Strong. Losing Pitcher – Trevor Woodjetts

Thursday, May 12th
Dave Dash Memorial Field R H E
Mississauga SW Twins 22 20 1
Brampton Royals 0 5 4
Winning Pitcher – Paul McKenna. Losing Pitcher – Mike Burke

George Taylor Field R H E
Erindale Cardinals 1 6 0
Niagara Metros 6 13 1
Winning Pitcher – Brandon Beattie. Losing Pitcher – Andrew Mullin

Friday, May 13th
Connorvale Park R H E
Milton Red Sox 1 6 0
Etobicoke Rangers 2 10 0
Winning Pitcher – Kyle Breitner. Losing Pitcher – Alex Martinez

Saturday, May 14th
Brampton Royals vs. Milton Red Sox -- PPD – Rain