COBA Week IX - Two wins, one loss for Erindale Cardinals

Erindale Cardinals RHP Brendan Fox pitched six innings, allowing two runs on five hits. He walked a pair of batters while striking out one as he wound up with a no decision in an 8-7 loss to the Etobicoke Rangers.

COBA Major Week IX Recap

By Dan Estey

The Erindale Cardinals had a busy week as they played three games in COBA Major League regular season action.

On Monday, the Cards hosted the Niagara Metros for the first time this season at Greg Cranker Field. The Metros opened the scoring as they plated three third inning for a 3-0 lead. That lead held up until the fifth when the bats finally woke up for the Cards as they plated five runs and took a 5-3 lead into the later half of the game.

Erindale continued to tack on as they added a pair of run in both the sixth and seventh innings to stretch their lead to a commanding 9-3. Niagara would not go quietly though as they added a pair of runs in the eighth cutting into the Erindale lead but that’s as close as they would get as the Cardinals took this one by a score of 9-5.

Johnny DeWolfe led the eight-hit Erindale attack gong 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, a run scored and three RBI. Chris Novia also had a pair of hits going 2-for-3 including a double and four RBIs while Aaron Palmer was 2-for-4 and an RBI. Dylan Goulah and Pip Murray-Smith had the other two hits for the Cards.

Dan Nauth drew the starting assignment for Erindale. He went three innings and gave up three runs on five hits. He walked three batters while striking out three. Mark Taplin threw a clean fourth allowing only a hit while winner Adam Forsey also threw a scoreless inning of relief allowing two hits while walking one and striking out three.

Dan (The Mule) Estey came on after Forsey throwing two more clean innings allowing only a hit while striking out four Metros batters. Big lefty Andrew Mullin tossed the last two innings and was touched up for a pair of earned runs on four hits. He also collected three strikeouts.

There wasn’t much rest for the Redbirds as they were right back in action Tuesday night as they welcomed the Milton Red Sox into town for a make-up game from an earlier rain out. It was all Cards early in this one as they put up three runs in the second and followed that up with single runs in the third, fifth, and sixth innings to take a commanding 6-0 lead.

The pesky Red Sox kept battling though as they managed to put up a five-spot in the seventh inning to cut the Erindale lead to 6-5. The Cards added an insurance run in the home half though and the bullpen shut the door the rest of the way for a 7-5 victory over Milton.

Erindale pounded out 15 hits and were led by Ricardo Marin who was 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and an RBI. Palmer was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs Adrian Butrimas was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Jay (Pompier Jason) Woodford was 2-for-4 with a walk while four different Cards hitters each had a hit and an RBI to round up the Erindale offense.

Kevin Lucas drew the start for the Redbirds and continued his solid season tossing six scoreless allowing only two hits while walking one and striking out three for his second win of the season. Zach Bayfield threw the next 1/3 of an inning and was roughed up for five runs on one hit while walking five. Mark Taplin came in to put out the fire allowing a hit while Andrew Mullin tossed the final two innings allowing nothing across and striking out three in collecting the save.

After a pair of wins at home, the Cardinals took to the road for their final game of the week as they traveled to Connorvale Park for a contest with the league leading Etobicoke Rangers. Erindale got out of the gates in a hurry in this one as they put up a run in the first and another five runs in the second to take a commanding 6-0 lead after two innings.

The Rangers started to chip away though as they plated two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to cut the lead to 6-4. They would add another run in the eighth to make it 6-5 but Erindale added a run in the ninth for a 7-5 lead. The Cards couldn’t hang on though as the Rangers used two walks and a Ryan Panas walk-off home run to take the game 8-7

Erindale was led at the plate by Mike Caleb who was 3-for-3 with a double, a pair of walks, a run and an RBI. Murray-Smith was 3-for-4 with a walk and a pair of runs while Goulah (RBI), Brandonn Cole, and Alex Perez (RBI) each had a hit as well.

Brendan Fox started on the hill and was masterful as he went six innings allowing two runs on five hits. He walked a pair of batters while striking out one. Forsey threw the seventh and was touched up for a pair of runs -- one earned -- on zero hits while walking two batters. Mullin came in for the eighth and was also tagged for three runs on one hit. He walked four batters while striking out one. Evan Harrison took the tough loss as he faced one batter giving up a home run.

The results from Week IX of the COBA Major season:

Sunday

Burlington Brants 4, Oakville A’s 3

WP–Cam Ryerson, LP–Matt Reagan.

SV–Trevor Woodjetts,

Burlington Brants – 4, Oakville A’s – 4

Monday

Erindale Cardinals 9, Niagara Metros 5

WP–Adam Forsey, LP–Justin Ayles

HR–Dave Davidson (Niag); Johnny Dewolfe (Erin)

Tuesday

Erindale Cardinals 7, Milton Red Sox 5

WP–Kevin Lucas, LP-Ian Zettle

SV-Andrew Mullin,

Etobicoke Rangers 1, Mississauga SW Twins 0

WP–Adam McBride, LP–Steven Nahabeki.

SV–Matt Stoddart,

Wednesday

Milton Red Sox 3, Niagara Metros 2

WP–Rhys Tapper, LP–Dylan Perego

Burlington Brants 5, Mississauga SW Twins 4

WP–Ryan Colling, LP–David Sigmond

SV–Jordan Rienzo,

Thursday

Burlington Brants 5, Brampton Royals 4

WP-Mike Grilli, LP –Steve Hough.

SV–Trevor Woodjetts,

Friday

Etobicoke Rangers 8, Erindale Cardinals 7

WP-Matt Stoddart, LP-Evan Harrison

HR-Ryan Panas (Etob)

Niagara Metros – 4, Oakville A’s - 4