COBA Major Week VI Recap

By Dan Estey

The Mississauga Southwest Twins had a solid week in COBA Major League collecting a pair of wins in three games during the week.

The Twins made a rare Sunday afternoon visit to Connorvale Park to take on the Etobicoke Rangers. Mississauga struck first in this one as they put up a pair of runs in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. Etobicoke cut that lead in half in the sixth but the Twins got that run right back in the top of the seventh to take a 3-1 lead.

Southwest looked to be in control but a late surge by the Rangers allowed them to tie the game 3-3 and force extra innings. In the top of the 10th, Mississauga pushed a run across and made that lead stick with a 4-3 victory.

Jamie Smith led the 10-hit attack for Mississauga as he was 3-for-5 with a double. Michael Cardinale was 2-for-5 with double while Eric Thrower was 1-for-4 with a two-run home run. James Byrnes was also 1-for-4 driving in the other Twins run.

Marco Bandiera led the Etobicoke charge going 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI.

Byrnes worked double duty on this day as he also got the start on the hill for the Twins. He went seven innings allowing one run on seven hits in collecting a no decision. He walked one while striking out seven Rangers. Tomas Rincon threw three innings in relief of Byrnes allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits in collecting the win. He also allowed one walk while striking out four. Brendan Lyons, the third of three Etobicoke hurlers took the loss in relief.

The Twins returned home on Tuesday as they welcomed the Oakville A’s to Clarkson Park. Mississauga struck early in this one as they put up three runs in the first two innings for an early 3-0 lead. Oakville bounced back with a pair of runs in the 3rd inning to cut the deficit to 3-2. The Twins answered back with a run in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead.

The A’s went to work in the sixth , as they put up four runs to take a 6-4 lead. The Twins answered again as they put up single runs in the sixth and seventh to tie the game again at six. Oakville finished strong though as they put up six runs in their final two at bats to take this game by a score of 12-6.

Josh Federico led the 12-hit Twins attack going 4-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base while Smith was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run. Brendan Emmett was 2-for-6 with a double and two RBIs while Alex Thrower was 2-for-5 with a double and three runs. Alex Fulton led the way for Oakville going 2-for-4 with a walk, three runs and four RBIs.

Stephen Nahrabeki started for the Twins and took the loss on the mound. He went six innings allowing six runs -- five earned -- on eight hits while walking two and striking out three. Kevin Cassar threw a pair of innings allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits while Billy Martin threw the last inning allowing four runs on three hits. Curtis Braun went seven innings to collect the win for the A’s.

The Twins traveled to Oakville on Friday night to complete a home and home with the A’s at Oakville Park. Mississauga got out of the gates early in this one plating three runs in the first. Oakville cut into that lead with a pair of runs in the second inning but Southwest got those runs right back in the third to take a 5-2 lead. The A’s kept battling getting a run in the bottom of the third inning but Mississauga answered again with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings extended their lead to 7-3.

Oakville put up three runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning to cut the lead to 7-6. That is as close as the A’s would get on this night though as the Twins plated four runs over the last three innings to take this game by a score of 11-7.

George Farid led the offensive attack for Mississauga going 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, a pair of runs and five RBIs. The speedy Cardinale was 3-for-4 with a triple, a walk, four runs and three RBIs while Nahrabeki was 3-for-6 with three singles and a run scored. Chris Piccini and Jakyob Turner each swatted solo home runs as Sid Elford had a two run single.

David Sigmond started for the Twins collecting a no decision. He threw 4 2/3 innings allowing six runs -- five earned -- on 10 hits. He walked one batter while striking out three. Adam Banski threw a scoreless 1/3, collecting the win. Rincon threw three innings allowing a run on three hits while walking two and striking out four while Cardinale tossed the last inning allowing only a hit and striking out three.

The rest of the Week VI result from the COBA Major Baseball League:

Sunday

Mississauga SW Twins – 4, Etobicoke Rangers – 3

WP – Tomas Rincon, LP – Brendan Lyons

HR – Eric Thrower (Miss SW)

Monday

Etobicoke Rangers – 5, Erindale Cardinals – 4

WP – Mike Asta, LP – Andrew Mullin

SV – Tyler Whealy

Tuesday

Oakville A’s – 12, Mississauga SW Twins – 6

WP – Curtis Braun, LP – Stephen Nahrabeki

HR – Matt Reagan (Oak)

Wednesday

Mississauga SW Twins vs. Milton Red Sox (PPD – Rain)

Niagara Metros vs. Burlington Brants (PPD – Rain)

Thursday

Brampton Royals – 13, Milton Red Sox – 9

WP – Eric Ferreira, LP – Ian Zettle

HR – Joe Ferreira, Andrew Thomson (Bram)

Burlington Brants vs. Niagara Metros (PPD – Rain)

Friday

Etobicoke Rangers – 7, Brampton Royals – 4

WP – Andrew Hyde, LP – Mike Burke

HR – Dennis Dei Baning (Etob)

Mississauga SW Twins – 11, Oakville A’s – 7

WP – David Sigmond, LP – Alex Fulton

HR – Chris Piccini, Jakyob Turner, George Farid (Miss SW)

Saturday

Oakville A’s – 9, Etobicoke Rangers – 8

WP – Matt Reagan, LP – Adam McBride

HR – Alex Devos (Oak)

Etobicoke Rangers – 7, Oakville A’s – 5

WP – Kyle Angelow, LP – Alex Hawley