COBA's best: Erindale, Hurley, Thomson

Erindale 3B Pip Murray-Smith (in Red) tries to apply the tag to Brampton OF Andrew Thomson on a close play at third. Thomson was the COBA Player of the Week while Murray-Smith was given honorable mention. 

By Dan Estey
Canadian Baseball Network
After a sluggish start to their 2016 campaign, the Erindale Cardinals were able to rattle off a couple of wins in league action as they defeated the Oakville A’s and the Burlington Brants last week. With the two wins, the Cards improved their record to 2-4 in the COBA Major League. 

On Monday, Erindale traveled to Oakville to take on the Oakville A’s. Dan Estey drew the start for Erindale while lefty Michael Vanderlaan got the start for the A’s. The Cards jumped all over Vanderlaan putting up seven in the first three innings highlighted by a first-inning three-run home run by Chris Novia. Estey was touched up for three earned runs in his two innings of work but the Erindale bullpen shut the door the rest of the way. Brendan Fox (1-0) just back from school south of the border collected the win while Mike Morely, Dan Nauth, and Mark Taplin also had some time on the mound as well. Erindale pounded out 14 hits in this one with Pip Murray-Smith collecting three hits, Jake Eves two hits, and Novia with the three-run blast. Marc Walton had a solo homer for Oakville as part of their 12-hit barrage against Erindale pitching. 

On Wednesday, the Big Red Machine hit the road to take on the Burlington Brants at Nelson Park. Cards big lefty Andrew Mullin drew the assignment in this game while Tim Sogan got the nod for the Brants. This was a tight game the whole night as both teams pitched very well and played some great defense. Erindale struck first in this contest as they put up two runs in the second inning off of Sogan on RBI singles by Andrew Petruk and Murray-Smith. Burlington answered back in the bottom of the third with their first run on a Corrie Morrison sac fly to cut the lead to one. Trevor Woodjetts replaced Soagn in the 4th inning and the Cards were able to muster up a run off of him on an RBI ground out by Murray-Smith. Not going quietly, Burlington answered back in the bottom of the fourth  inning as Ben Kirby lined an RBI single to cut the lead to one again. After that, the pitching and defense took center stage the rest of the way with both teams making some great plays. Burlington got a runner to second in the 9th inning but couldn’t push him across the plate as Erindale prevailed 3-2. Mullin picked up the win going six strong innings allowing both runs on 6 hits. Adam Forsey threw a strong two innings of relief striking out three in his time on the hill. Mark Taplin finished up in the ninth collecting the save. Sogan took the loss for the Brants.

Player of the Week for Week 4: OF Andrew Thomson of the Brampton Royals.
Thomson had a very strong week at the dish helping lead Brampton to a 3-0 record with victories over Mississauga SW (11-2) and wins against Oakville (10-8 & 9-6). For his week, he was 6 for 10 (.600) with 2 singles, 3 doubles and a triple and a walk. He drove in 3 RBI while scoring 4 runs and collecting a stolen base.

Thomson is now hitting .389 (7 for 18) for his season with a single, 4 doubles and 2 triples. He also has scored 7 runs and collected 3 RBI. Congratulations to Andrew Thomson; the Week 4 COBA Major League Player of the Week.

Hononable Mention
Cole Lewis (Burlington Brants)
3 Games, .636 Avg, 11 AB, 7 Hits, 2 Doubles, 3 RBI, 2 Runs, 2 Walks

Pip Murray-Smith (Erindale Cardinals)
2 Games, .500 Avg, 10 AB, 5 Hits, 5 singles, 3 Runs, 2 RBI, 1 Stolen Base

Pitcher of the Week for Week 4 RHP Billy Hurley of the Mississauga Southwest Twins.

Hurley only had one appearance this week making a start against the Milton Red Sox this past Saturday. In this game, he went five scoreless innings allowing scattering two hits. He walked two batters and struck out five in collecting his second win of the season.

Hurley, who has dominated senior baseball over the past few seasons, looks to be back in fine form as he is now 2-0 on the season with a 1.49 ERA. In his 11 innings of work, he has allowed 8 hits while collecting 11 strikeouts and only 4 walks. Congratulations to Billy Hurley; the Week 4 COBA Major League Pitcher of the Week.

Hononable Mention
Cam Ryerson (Burlington Brants)
1 Game, 1 Win, 0 Losses, 6 Innings, 3 Hits, 2 Runs, 0 Earned Runs, 0.00 ERA, 1 Walk, 4 Ks

Mike Burke (Brampton Royals)
1 Game, 1 Win, 0 Losses, 7 Innings, 5 Hit, 2 Runs, 2 Earned Runs, 2.57 ERA, 1 Walk, 6 Ks

Linescores
Monday, May 23rd
Oakville Park   R   H   E
Erindale Cardinals    9    15    1
Oakville A’s    3    12    1
Winning Pitcher – Brendan Fox. Losing Pitcher – Michael Vanderlaan
HR – Chris Novia (Erindale) Marc Walton (Oakville)

Tuesday
Clarkson Park  R   H   E
Burlington Brants    5    8    1
Mississauga SW Twins    2    4    2
Winning Pitcher – Cam Ryerson. Losing Pitcher – Jordan Petruska

Wednesday
Nelson Park   R   H   E
Erindale Cardinals    3    9    0
Burlington Brants    2    7    0
Winning Pitcher – Andrew Mullin. Losing Pitcher – Tim Sogan
Save – Mark Taplin

Milton Sports Complex – 10 Inn   R   H   E
Niagara Metros    2    6    0
Milton Red Sox    3    8    0
Winning Pitcher – Steve Jablonski. Losing Pitcher – Dan Proctor
HR – Troy Findlay (Milton)

Thursday
Dave Dash Memorial Field   R   H   E
Mississauga SW Twins    2    6    3
Brampton Royals    11    14    0
Winning Pitcher – Mike Burke. Losing Pitcher – Paul McKenna
HR – Ian Campbell (Miss SW)

George Taylor Field   R   H   E
Etobicoke Rangers    8    11    0
Niagara Metros    3    6    2
Winning Pitcher – Kevin Breitner. Losing Pitcher – Justin Ayles

Friday
Connorvale Park   R   H   E
Burlington Brants    1    9    0
Etobicoke Rangers    2    8    3
Winning Pitcher – Andrew Perryman. Losing Pitcher – Jordan Rienzo

Saturday
Dave Dash Memorial Field   R   H   E
Oakville A’s    8    8    2
Brampton Royals    10    13    4
Winning Pitcher – Brandon Habibi. Losing Pitcher – Matt Reagan
Save – Ryan Thompson
HR – Nathan Lewko (Oakville); Steve Hough (Brampton)

Milton Sports Complex   R   H   E
Mississauga SW Twins    13    18    2
Milton Red Sox    1    4    4
Winning Pitcher – Billy Hurley. Losing Pitcher – Chris Cloes
HR – Jordan Rincon (Mississauga SW)

Dave Dash Memorial Field   R   H   E
Oakville A’s    6    4    2
Brampton Royals    9    11    0
Winning Pitcher – Brad McLaughlin. Losing Pitcher – Gord Robertson
Save – Joe Ferreira
HR – Patrick Pinlac + Joe Ferreira (Brampton).