COBA Major Week VII Recap

By Dan Estey

The Milton Red Sox had a solid week in COBA Major League play as they collected a pair of wins and got themselves to .500 on the season.

On Wednesday, the Sox made the short jaunt down the road to Nelson Park and a mid-week match-up with the Burlington Brants. Milton managed to get a run in the top of the first inning for an early lead. That lead was short lived as the Brants put up three runs in the bottom half of the third for a 3-1 lead.

The next few innings, the pitchers took over as both teams were held off the board for the next four innings. The Milton bats caught fire in the eighth as they put up five runs to take a 6-3 lead. Burlington made it interesting as they put up two runs in the home half of the eighth but Milton held on for a tough 6-5 victory.

Brady Hall led the Red Sox 11-hit attack going 3-for-4 with a walk and a run scored. Brett Medland was 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored while Kalen Winkler was 2-for-5 with a double. Ryan Wood was 2-for-6 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored while Kevin Greer had an RBI fly ball..

Chris Cloes drew the starting assignment on the mound. He threw six innings and allowed three runs --- zero earned -- on four hits. He walked one and had one strikeout in collecting a no decision. Tyler MacKillop threw 1 2/3 innings for the win. He allowed two runs on seven hits while also hitting a batter. Newcomer Shawn Miller collected his first COBA Major League save throwing the final 1 1/3 innings. He walked a batter while collecting a strikeout.

Saturday, the Sox returned home as they had a date with the Oakville A’s at the Milton Sports Complex. Milton got off and running early in this one putting up two runs in the bottom of the first frame. Oakville cut that lead in half with a run in the fourth but Milton poured it on scoring nine runs over the next three innings in taking an 11-2 lead after six innings.

Oakville managed to get another run in the top of the seventh to cut the led to 11-3 but Red Sox slugger Matt Lahn belted a three-run homer to end the game with a score of 14-3. The game was halted in the seventh due to the league mercy rule.

Jason Schneider was the hot stick for Milton on this day as he was 4-for-4 with a home run, two runs and three RBIs. Lahn was 3-for-5 with the aforementioned home run as well as three runs and five RBIs. Medland was 2-for-5 with a run and two RBIs while Winkler was 2-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, an RBI and three runs scored. Veteran OF Steve Lauzon was 2-for-4 with an RBI while Greer was 1-for-2 with a double, two walks, two runs and two RBIs.

Schneider had an all-around great day at the yard as he also started on the hill and collected the win for the Sox. He went a solid 6 1/3 innings allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits. He walked four batters while striking out five. Veteran righty Ian Zettle threw the other 2/3 of an inning allowing only a hit and a walk.

The results from Week VII in the COBA Major League:

Monday

Niagara Metros vs. Erindale Cardinals (PPD – Rain)

Tuesday

Mississauga SW – 10, Niagara Metros – 3

WP – Kevin Cassar, LP – Jacob Renpenning

SV – Stephen Nahrabeki

HR – Bryan Lapaix (Niag.)

Erindale Cardinals – 14, Burlington Brants – 6

WP – Evan Harrison, LP – Trevor Woodjetts

SV – Zach Bayfield

HR – Jay Woodford, Chris Novia, Aaron Palmer (Erin.)

Wednesday

Milton Red Sox – 6, Burlington Brants – 5

WP – Tyler MacKillop, LP – Ryan Colling

SV – Shawn Miller

Thursday

Oakville A’s vs. Brampton Royals (PPD – Rain)

Friday

Oakville A’s – 2, Erindale Cardinals – 1

WP – Matt Reagan, LP – Brendan Fox

SV – Curtis Braun

Etobicoke Rangers – 4, Burlington Brants – 3

WP – Brendan Lyons, LP – Trevor Woodjetts

SV – Matt Stoddart

Saturday

Etobicoke Rangers – 5, Niagara Metros – 1

WP – Kyle Angelow, LP – Brandon Underhill

Niagara Metros – 11, Etobicoke Rangers – 3

WP – Justin Ayles, LP – Brad Crone

Milton Red Sox – 14, Oakville A’s – 3

WP – Jason Schneider, LP – Peter Zytner

HR – Jason Schneider, Matt Lahn (Milt.)