COBA Major Week VIII

By Dan Estey

The Niagara Metros had a successful week in league play as they won both games that they played to push their record to .500 on the season. After having their game Thursday against the Oakville A’s rained out, they hosted the Brampton Royals for a pair of games at George Taylor Field.

In Game 1, the Metros wasted no time as they put up three runs in the first inning and five more in the third to take a quick 8-0 lead. They didn’t stop there as they were able to put up another four runs in the fifth to take that game by a score of 12-0. The game ended after five innings due to the league mercy rule.

Niagara belted out eight hits and was led by Matt Casburn who was 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and three RBIs. Brandon Underhill was 2-for-2 with a double, a walk, two runs and an RBI will Chris Anderi was 2-for-3 with a walk, a run and an RBI. Dylan Perego was 1-for-2 with a walk, a pair of runs and an RBI while Jono Marcheterre was 1-for-3 with a walk, a run and an RBI.

Newcomer Liam Jacques drew the starting assignment on the hill and performance extremely well as he collected the win. Jacques went the complete game allowing only two hits and tossing a shutout. He hit two batters while walking one and striking out three.

In Game 2, Niagara opened the scoring again as they plated runs in the first and second to take an early 2-0 lead. The Royals answered back though as they scored a run in the third and another run in the 4th to tie the game 2-2.

The pitchers took over from there as there were run runs for the next few innings, but Niagara managed to break through with four runs in the sixth. They then held the Brampton bats at bay as they took Game 2 by a score of 6-2.

Anderi led the way offensively for Niagara going 3-for-4 with a run and a pair of RBIs. Casburn was 2-for-3 with a double, a pair of runs and an RBI while rookie Matt Bagnulo was 2-for-3 with a double, a run, an RBI and a stolen base. Underhill was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

Perego traded his bat for the mound in this one as he went six innings collecting the win. He allowed two runs of four hits while hitting a batter and striking out two. Jacob Renpenning tossed a clean seventh striking out one.

The rest of the results from Week VIII of the COBA Major League season:

Monday

Oakville A’s 4, Erindale Cardinals 7

WP-Kevin Lucas, LP-Nick Boyd

HR-Chris Novia (Erin)

Tuesday

Burlington Brants 1, Mississauga SW Twins 12

WP-Jordan Petruska, LP-Mike Westlake

Wednesday

Milton Red Sox 2, Burlington Brants 9

WP-Cam Ryerson, LP-Ian Zettle

HR-Tim Sogan, Corrie Morrison, Mike Westlake (Burl.)

Thursday

Oakville A’s vs Niagara Metros (PPD - Rain)

Mississauga SW Twins vs Brampton Royals (PPD - Rain)

Friday

Erindale Cardinals 3, Etobicoke Rangers 5

WP-Tyler Whealy, LP-Zach Bayfield

SV-Matt Stoddart

Milton Red Sox 12, Oakville A’s 16

WP-Curtis Braun, LP-Justin Newbold

HR-Ryan Freemantle (Oak.)

Saturday

Erindale Cardinals 5, Milton Red Sox 2

WP-Evan Harrison, LP-Tyler MacKillop

Erindale Cardinals 1, Milton Red Sox 4

WP-Jason Schneider, LP-Sebastian Santos

Brampton Royals 0, Niagara Metros 12

WP-Liam Jacques, LP-Jack Caswell

Brampton Royals 2, Niagara Metros 6

WP-Dylan Perego, LP-Brad McLaughlin