COBA Major Week III: Brants are A-OK
RHP Trevor Woodjetts pitched five innings allowing two runs (both earned) on five hits, while hitting one batter and striking out three for the Burlington Brants.
June 3, 2022
COBA Major League Week III Featuring the Burlington Brants
By Dan Estey
Canadian Baseball Network
The Burlington Brants had a busy week in COBA Major play. They had three games and when the dust settled, they came away with a pair of wins and COBA Major League Team of the Week honours for Week III of the season.
The Brants got their home schedule off the ground on Wednesday as they hosted the Oakville A’s at Nelson Park. Both teams got rolling early in this one as they each plated a run in the first inning. Burlington scored another run in the third frame to take a 2-1 lead.
From there, Burlingtion opened the flood gates as they scored five runs in the fourth, two more in the fifth and four more in the sixth to take a commanding 13-1 lead. Oakville would get one back in the seventh but the final was 13-2 Brants. The game was halted after seven innings due to the mercy rule.
Anthony Risquez led the way offensively for Burlington going 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs. Mike Westlake was 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and an RBI while Max Von Gemmingen was 1-for-2 with a double, three walks and two RBIs.
Cole Lewis was 1-for-2 with a walk and a pair of runs, Corrie Morrison was 1-for-4 with a walk, two runs and three RBIs while Tim Sogan (RBI) and Brock Marshall (three walks) rounded out the offence. Ryan Freemantle led the way for Oakville going 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. Marc Walton had the other RBI for the A’s.
Joel Connor drew the mound assignment in this game for the Brants. He went five innings allowing one run (earned) scattering five hits. He walked five batters and struck out three to pick up the win. Evan Krychowski followed him with an inning of work, allowing no runs on a hit while striking out two batters.
Jordan Rienzo tossed the last inning give up a run on two hits and also striking out two. A’s starter Chris Bowles took the loss. He went three innings allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits. He walked four while striking out three Brants batters.
Burlington made the trek to Milton Sports Park on Saturday to take on the Red Sox in a double dip. Game I saw some tight action as veteran hurlers Chris Cloes for the Red Sox and Trevor Woodjetts for the Brants locked horns in a great pitchers duel. Both team were able to cash a run in the first inning to get the offence going.
Milton plated another run in the third to take a 2-1 lead but that lead was short lived as the Brants pushed across single runs in the fourth and fifth to take a 3-2 lead after five. That lead stood until the seventh when the pesky Red Sox were finally able string some hits together and scored a pair of runs to walk off Burlington by a score of 4-3.
Offensively, the Brants were led by Lewis who was 2-for-4 on the day with a double and a pair of runs scored. Corrie Morrison was 2-for-2 with a triple, a walk and a pair of RBIs while Bill Reume was 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a stolen base. Phil Hache and Rizquez each had a single to round out the offence. Sean Alp led the way for the Red Sox going 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI.
Woodjetts was brilliant for Burlington as he went five strong innings allowing two runs (both earned) on five hits. He hit one batter while striking out three, getting a no decision. Evan Krychowski took the tough loss tossing 1 1/3 innings allowing two runs (both earned) on six hits. Cloes went the distance for Milton grabbing the win. He allowed three runs while scattering seven hits. He walked two batters and struck out three.
Game II was a much different story than the first game. The Brants jumped on Milton pitchers early throwing up six runs in the second. Milton would get one back in the bottom half to cut the lead to 6-1. Burlington would get that back in the third but Milton again answered making the score 7-2 after five innings. The Brants kept pushing though as they were able to cash in four more runs in the sixth inning and kept Milton off of the scoreboard in the bottom half to win this contest by a score of 11-2.
Westlake had a big game for the Brants going 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and five RBIs. Phil Hache was 1-for-4 with a double, while Rizquez was 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored.
Lewis was 1-for-4 with an RBI, Morrison was 1-for-3 with an RBI, Reume was 1-for-4 and an RBI while Darryl Pierce rounded out the offence with a pair of runs and an RBI. Alp, once again, led the Red Sox attack going 4-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Veteran hurler Rienzo started and was the beneficiary of all the offence collecting the win. He went six strong innings allowing both runs (one earned) on five hits. He walked only one and struck out four. Krychowski tossed the final frame allowing only a pair of Milton hits while striking out one. Red Sox starter Dylan Clark took the loss in this one, allowing 11 runs (six earned) over 4 2/3 innings.
The rest of the results from Week III of COBA Major League action:
Monday, May 23rd
Milton Red Sox 1, Erindale Cardinals 11
WP - Kevin Lucas; LP - Dylan Clark
Wednesday, May 25th
Brampton Royals 25, Erindale Cardinals - 6
WP - Brad McLaughlin; LP - Noah Gardener
Oakville A’s 2, Burlington Brants - 13
WP - Joel Connor; LP - Chris Bowles
Thursday, May 26th
Etobicoke Rangers 14, Brampton Royals 3
WP - Corey Vandergraaf; LP - RJ Page
Friday, May 27th
Erindale Cardinals 10, Etobicoke Rangers - 5 (10 Inn)
WP - Dan Zelezko; LP - Steve Ryan
Milton Red Sox 10, Oakville A’s 5
WP - Kyle Clark; LP - Steve Shum
HR - Nick McKinnon (Milt)
Saturday, May 28th
Burlington Brants 3, Milton Red Sox - 4
WP - Chris Cloes; LP - Evan Krychowski
Burlington Brants 11, Milton Red Sox 2
WP - Jordan Rienzo; LP - Dylan Clark