The Alvinston Indians travelled to Fingal for the second time this week in St. Thomas and District Men's Fastball league action, but this time to face the Shedden Force. St. Thomas gave Alvinston a 6-5 loss earlier in the week, and the Indians were looking to avoid losing two straight, and going above .500 on the young season. They would have to do so against the team that they beat in the playoff finals in 2013, in what was very dramatic, as the Indians came back from a 2-0 series deficit, to defeat Shedden in five games.
On this night, Nic Goetz would start for Shedden, while the Indians countered with Jeff Lyons. Shedden jumped out to a 3-0 lead, after three walks in the bottom of the second inning, led to three runs, with Robbie Burns singling in the first run, while Gary Cooke hit a 2-run RBI single, putting Shedden out to a big lead. In the top of the third however, the Triest brothers would manufacture a couple runs, when Andy Triest walked to lead off the inning, and scored on a 2 run homerun by Joe Triest. Jeff Lyons then walked with one out and stole second base, but the Indians failed to cash the tying run.
In the bottom of the third inning, MacPherson walked with one out, and Indians coach McCart decided to lift Lyons in favour of Kyle Crawford. Crawford would record the next two outs to end the inning, and settle into the contest, providing the Indians a chance to win the game. In the fourth inning, Alvinston would knot the game at 3's, when Ryan Chapman walked, advanced to second on a pass ball, and then scored on an RBI single by Tyler Huff. With one out, Andy Triest walked again, but Alvinston left runners on first and third, and failed to cash the go-ahead run.
Now tied 3-3, Unwin hammered a double in the gap to lead off the fourth inning for Shedden, however, Crawford ended the Force threat, when he struckout the next 3 Shedden swingers.
Alvinston then came to the dish in the top of the fifth inning, and added the important go-ahead run. Jeff Lyons hit a sharp single, was sacrificed to second perfectly by Aaron Sotcking, and Brad Cooper singled up the middle to score Lyons.
Crawford would allow one base runner in the sixth and seventh inning, but nothing across, as he shut the door in relief to earn the victory. Alvinston was able to pile on a couple more insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. Jamie Shields hit a hard single, and went first to third on a Sotcking single. Cooper then walked to load the bases, with one out. The next hitter was retired for Alvinston for the second out of the inning. But Eric Hyatt followed, and hit a clutch two out single up the middle to score both Shields and Stocking.
The final score was Alvinston 6, Shedden 3. Crawford picked up the win, with 4 2/3 innings of shutout ball in relief of Indians starter Jeff Lyons. Craig Walked suffered the loss for the Force in relief of Goetz. Joe Triest with a two run homerun, Brad Cooper with the go-ahead RBI single, and Eric Hyatt with the two out, two strike, two run single to ice the game, provided the big hits for the Indians.
The Indians return to action next Thursday night at home, versus the visiting Shedden Force, who pay a return visit to Alvinston.