COBA Week V: Murphy, Rangers, Zettle

Niagara Split Games During Week 5
 
By Dan Estey
Canadian Baseball Network
The Niagara Metros had a .500 record in Week 5 action of the COBA Major Senior League. The Metros played twice dropping a tight 5-4 decision on the road in Milton before rebounding at home to defeat the league leading Erindale Cardinals by a score of 12-6. 

On Wednesday, this one started off as a pitcher’s duel with veterans Ian Zettle for Milton and Geoff Strong were going head-to-head in this one. In his third start, Strong hurled the first four innings not allowing and runs or hits. His only blemish on his line was two walks that he issued. Taylor Boyle followed him out of the pen and had a few struggled as the Milton bats jumped on the lefty plating two runs in the fifth inning and another three in the sixth inning to grab a 5-0 lead. The Metros didn’t go quietly though as they sparked a rally in the seventh inning off of the Red Sox bullpen. Veterans David Davidson and Jono Marcheterre both had singles in that frame to cut the lead to 5-1. In the eighth, Justin Ayles walked to lead off the inning followed by Ricky Ferri and Taylor Anderson following suit to load the bases. Jordan Grant then punched a two-run single through to cut the lead to 5-3. Davidson followed that up with a towering fly ball to make it 5-4 but southpaw Dan Todoschuk shut the door the rest of the way making the final 5-4 for Milton. 

Ian Zettle collected the win for Milton while lefty Boyle suffered the loss for the Metros. Todoschuk picked up the save. Offensively for Niagara, their nine-hit attack was led by Grant who was 2-for-4 with two RBIs while 2B Jonathan Paul was 2-for-3 with a walk. Davidson was 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI while Strong, Anderson, Marcheterre and Dan Proctor each had a hit for the Metros.

Now sitting at 3-4, the Niagara club returned home looking to get things rolling again as their opposition for the night would be the league leading Erindale. The Cards got on the board early as they touched up starting pitcher Rhys Tapper for two runs in the top of the 1st inning. The Metros answered right back though as they put up four runs in the 1st inning with their first five batters reaching base. 

Erindale bounced back in the second frame though adding two more runs to tie the game 4-4. Tapper had to exit the game in this frame due to an injury and was replaced by Justin Ayles. While Ayles was shutting down the Erindale bats, the Metros kept going adding single runs in the third and fourth innings before the flood gates really opened in the fifth frame where they added five runs to take a commanding 11-6 lead. They would add one more run late and win going away 12-6 to even their record at 4-4.

Ayles ended up the winner on this night tossing a brilliant five-plus innings in relief of Tapper. He allowed only two runs and five hits while striking out six Cardinal batters. Newcomer Nick Submaraniam followed Ayles to the hill and was lights out as he allowed only one hit and struck out five in three innings on route to grabbing his first ever COBA Major League save. 

At the plate, Ferri had a big night going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two walks. Chris Anderi was 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI while Grant was 2-for-3 with two runs, an RBI and two walks. Troy Findlay was 2-for-4 with two runs, an RBI and a walk. Veterans Marcheterre (2-for-4, RBI) and Davidson (2-for-5, RBI) also collected two hits each. 
 
D-Ville Bats Player of the Week, Week 5 (May 28–June 3) _ OF Daniel Murphy, Etobicoke Rangers
Murphy played in two games during this week helping lead the Rangers to a 2-0 record. On Thursday, the Rangers picked up a tough 11-8 victory on the road in Brampton before returning home on Friday night and winning another tight game by a score of 9-6 over Milton. For his week, he was 6-for-8 (.750) with five singles, and a double. He scored six runs while collecting four RBI. He also walked twice while nabbing three stolen bases as well.

For his season, Murphy is now hitting a scorching .541 (20-for-36) with six doubles, a triple and a home run. He has walked four times while scoring 14 runs and collecting 15 RBI.

Hononable Mention
Matt Lahn (Milton Red Sox)
2 Game, .500 Avg., 6 AB, 3 Hits, 1 Single, 2 Doubles, 3 BB, 4 RBI, 3 Runs

Aaron Palmer (Erindale Cardinals)
2 Games, .500 Avg, 8 AB, 4 Hits, 3 Singles, 1 Double, 1 BB, 4 RBI, 1 Run, 1 SB
 
Lazer Pro Pitcher of the Week _ RHP Ian Zettle of the Milton Red Sox.
Zettle had one appearance this week leading the Red Sox to a tight 5-4 victory over the Niagara Metros at home. In this game, he tossed six shutout innings while allowing only four hits. He walked no one while striking out four in collecting the win for Milton.

For his year, the ever steady Zettle now sits at 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. He has allowed four runs (two earned) on 15 hits. He has walked only two batters and struck out four in 16 innings of work this season.

Hononable Mention
Mark Taplin (Erindale Cardinals)
1 Game, 0 Win, 0 Losses, 1 Save, 3 Innings, 0 Hits, 0 Runs, 0 Earned Runs, 0.00 ERA, 0 BB, 1 K

Nick Subramaniam (Niagara Metros)
1 Game, 0 Win, 0 Losses, 1 Save, 3 Innings, 1 Hit, 0 Runs, 0 Earned Runs, 0.00 ERA, 1 BB, 5 Ks

Kyle Breitner (Etobicoke Rangers)
1 Game, 0 Win, 0 Losses, 1 Save, 2 Innings, 1 Hit, 0 Runs, 0 Earned Runs, 0.00 ERA, 1 BB, 3 Ks

The COBA Major Zero K Bats Team of the Week -- Etobicoke Rangers.
For the second week in a row the Rangers take the honours. This past week the Rangers had a couple of big wins defeating the Brampton Royals by a score of 11-8 before returning home to the confines of Connorvale Park and narrowly defeating the Milton Red Sox by a score of 9-6.

With the two wins last week, the Etobicoke club now sits at 6-2 on the season. They are currently riding a five game winning streak and have climbed into a first place tie with the Erindale Cardinals.

Linescores
Monday, May 29th
Erindale Cardinal Field R H E
Mississauga SW Twins 9 8 0
Erindale Cardinals 16 17 3
Winning Pitcher – Dan Nauth, Losing Pitcher – Eric Ventura
HR – Mike Cantwell, Brendan Emmett + Chris Piccini (Miss.); Jay Woodford (Erin.)

Tuesday
Burlington Brants vs. Mississauga SW Twins -- PPD (Rain)

Wednesday
Nelson Park R H E
Oakville A’s 11 12 5
Burlington Brants 4 8 1
Winning Pitcher – Curtis Braun, Losing Pitcher – Brandon Habibi
HR – Troy LaCoste (Oak.)

Milton Sports Complex R H E
Niagara Metros 4 9 0
Milton Red Sox 5 8 2
Winning Pitcher – Ian Zettle, Losing Pitcher – Taylor Boyle
Save – Dan Todoschuk

Thursday
Dave Dash Memorial Field R H E
Etobicoke Rangers 11 15 4
Brampton Royals 8 11 2
Winning Pitcher – Brent Cleland, Losing Pitcher – Steve Hough
Save – Kyle Breitner

George Taylor Field R H E
Erindale Cardinals 6 13 6
Niagara Metros 12 16 1
Winning Pitcher – Justin Ayles. Losing Pitcher – Dan Estey
Save – Nick Submaraniam
Friday, June 2nd

Connorvale Park R H E
Milton Red Sox 6 9 3
Etobicoke Rangers 9 12 1
Winning Pitcher – Kyle Angelow, Losing Pitcher – Jason Schneider
Save – Brendan Lyons.