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Players
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ALVINSTON RETURNS VICTORIOUS
This past weekend, the Alvinston Indians traveled to Frankenmuth, Michigan, for the 18 team Peter Schwab Memorial Fastpitch Tournament. The Indians posted a 6-0 record en route to capturing the tournament championship. Solid pitching, combined with everyone contributing at different times 1 thru 9 in their lineup was the team’s key to success. The return of past Alvinston Indians mainstays Marc Greenwood and Adam Swan for the weekend was also appreciated, as 3 regular players could not attend the tournament for the Indians.
In game #1 of round robin play, Alvinston made quick work of Tiffany’s Bar from Frankenmuth, shutting them out 9-0 in a five-inning mercy rule victory. An explosive second inning, where the Indians powered themselves to 9 runs in the inning, surely was the difference. Scoring for the Indians were Shawn Fenton (2), Mike Black, Steve Donald, Joe Triest, Adam Swan (running for Scott Smith), Ryan Swift, Doug Charlton, and Andy Triest. Driving in the runs were Swift (3), Black, Donald, Fenton, Theo Metron, Charlton, and A. Triest. Ryan Swift was overpowering on the mound for the Indians, scattering 2 hits over 5 innings of work, while striking out 10 Frankenmuth swingers for the win.
In game #2, Alvinston’s offence did the same as the first game, piling on 8 runs en route to an 8-1 mercy rule victory win over Wabash, Indiana. Dave “Farmer” Martin allowed 1 run on 5 hits; he had 1 walk, while striking out 6, to earn the victory. Scoring for the Indians were Adam Swan (running for Scott Smith) (2), Fenton (2), Swift, Metron, J. Triest, and Black, while Fenton (2), Marc Greenwood (2), Metron, Smith, Triest, and Black drove in the runs for the locals. Black, Donald, Smith, Fenton and Swift all had 2 hits a piece in the game.
In the third game of the day on Saturday, the Indians had a much tougher task, against the Ludington Michigan Kelder’s. The Indians continued in their practice of scoring many runs in one inning, when they counted 4 runs in the second inning, which were all the runs they needed, en route to a 4-2 victory over Kelder’s. Metron, Jamie Shields (running for Charlton), Black and Donald were the run scorers, with Black’s 2 out double scoring 2 runs, and J. Triest 2 out triple scoring 2 runs being the big hits for the Indians. Doug Charlton earned the win on the mound, scattering 6 hits over 6 2/3 innings, recording 11 strikeouts, and allowing one walk. Ryan Swift came in to record the final out to earn the save for Alvinston.
The Alvinston Indians finished the round robin portion with a 3-0 record, allowing only 3 runs in 3 games of action, good enough to seed them in the #1 position in bracket A. After some earlier playoff games on Sunday, the Indians returned to the diamond to find out they would be playing the Ludington Michigan Kelder’s team yet again. Kelder’s turned out to be much tougher this time around, as the Alvinston Indians needed extra innings to defeat Kelder’s 6-5 in nine innings. Andy Triest scored the eventual game winning run with the international tie breaking rule in effect, on a sacrifice fly by Steve Donald. Also driving in runs were Swift (2), Metron, A. Triest and Fenton. Adding the other runs for the Indians were Fenton, Shields (running for Fenton), Swift, J. Triest and Donald. Dave “Farmer” Martin started the game, but was relieved of his duties in the sixth inning. Ryan Swift took over and ended up earning the victory, striking out 6 batters in 3 and 2/3 innings of work.
The Indians were now off to the semi-finals against the Ashland Mets. The Indians fully anticipated a matchup with the #5 ISC II ranked Ashland Stockpack, but they were upset by the upstart Ashland Mets. The game remained scoreless through 3 innings, but in the fourth, Alvinston finally counted. Fenton and Metron led off the inning with back to back singles, and after a Charlton sacrifice bunt to advance the runners, Greenwood singled to load the bases. That set the scene for Andy Triest who connected on the first pitch, tripling into the gap, scoring Fenton, Metron and Greenwood, with A. Triest coming around to score on the same play when the throw to home was mishandled by the catcher. With the Indians now sporting a 4-0 lead, that was more then enough for Indians starter Doug Charlton, as he dominated the Ashland lineup, tossing a two hitter, with one walk, and nine strikeouts in the game, to earn the eventual 4-0 shutout victory. Joe Triest was ¾ in the game, Metron was 2/4, Charlton was 1/1, and Greenwood, A. Triest, and Fenton were all 1/3.
The Indians were now off to the Championship game, against the HBC Lightning, from Marshall, Michigan. The Lightning opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, but Alvinston tied the game in the top of the third inning. Andy Triest tripled and then scored on a RBI by Black, but they failed to take the lead, after leaving the bases full. The Lightning, however, retook the lead in the bottom of the third, when they scored 1 run, making the score 2-1. After leaving runners on in the fourth inning again, the Indians cashed in on their opportunities in the fifth, when they counted four runs, to take a commanding 5-2 lead. After a single by Joe Triest, and a double by Swift, Theo Metron had a clutch 2 RBI single, scoring both J. Triest, and Swift. Donald then followed with a bloop RBI single down the line to score Metron, and then Donald scored on an RBI double by Greenwood. Charlton started the game for Alvinston, was relieved by Swift, but in the 5th inning, Martin came in for Swift, after back to back walks, which led to the Lightning’s third run, making the game 5-3. In the sixth, the Lightning fought back again, counting 2 runs, to knot the game at 5. However, Alvinston’s resiliency was displayed yet again, when after a leadoff single by Swift, and a Fenton sacrifice bunt to advance Swift, Metron followed with an RBI single scoring Swift, for the game’s eventual game winning run, as the Alvinston Indians and Dave “Farmer” Martin held off the HBC Lightning in the bottom of the seventh for a thrilling 6-5 victory, and tournament championship.
Definitely a solid weekend for the Lambton County Fastball contingent, as they rebounded from their poor performance at the ISC II qualifier, with the tournament championship in Frankenmuth, posting a 6-0 record. Although, the local Indians will not be traveling to Appleton, Wisconsin for the ISC II Tournament of Champions this season, for the first time in its 7 year existence, they will be attempting to defend their OASA Ontario Championship from 2007 again in 2008, as they will travel to Cobourg, Civic Holiday weekend, for the annual tournament. highlights brought to you by:
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