Angels strike first in Fall Classic
Wagner Lawn Care takes championship series lead with a 9-5 win over Studabakers Beachside at Tudhope Park
The SportsKlub Orillia slo-pitch season is down to its final games. Two best-of-three series got underway Sunday morning at Tudhope Park, with the Wagner Lawn Care Angels defeating the Studabakers Beachside Rockies 9-5 in Game 1 of the Fall Classic, while the NKD Deer Muskies earned a 14-7 victory over the CMF Automotive Metropolitans in the opening game of the third-place series.
Both winners now sit one victory away from closing out their respective series.
Wagner Lawn Care Angels 9, Studabakers Beachside Rockies 5
The Angels struck first in the Fall Classic, putting together a balanced offensive performance to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three championship series.
Jeff Carey led Wagner Lawn Care with three hits, while Devin Coombs collected two hits and helped keep the Angels' offence moving. Griffin Knicely delivered the biggest swing for the Angels, connecting for a home run as Wagner Lawn Care generated enough offence to build its nine-run total.
Kauner Lehtonen also recorded multiple hits, while Paige Hawker, Jessie Brown, Wesley O'Leary, David Pearson, Jay Fallis and Oswell James contributed at the plate.
The Rockies generated opportunities of their own, but couldn't quite keep pace. Rob McMinn led the Rockies with three hits, while Jason Coldwell, Jessie Eyers, Gabe McLean and Tyler Nixon each recorded multiple hits.
Wyatt Predum, Paige Favel, Kylee Nixon, Tamara Evans and Austin Dyck rounded out a Rockies lineup that pushed five runs across but couldn't erase the Angels' advantage.
The 9-5 victory puts Wagner Lawn Care one win away from capturing the Fall Classic.
NKD Deer Muskies 14, CMF Automotive Metropolitans 7
The Muskies opened the third-place series with an offensive outburst, doubling up the Metropolitans 14-7 to take their own 1-0 series lead.
Jared MacDonald provided one of the biggest moments of the game, launching a home run and driving in runs as NKD Deer pulled away. Mike Black collected three hits, while Jessie Eyers also finished with three hits. Jesse Bremner recorded a pair of hits and drove in multiple runs, while Jamie Ball and Ricardo Santiago each added two hits.
Paul Laforet, JJ Healy, Jason Coldwell and Braeden Stillwell also contributed as the Muskies piled up 14 runs in one of their strongest offensive performances of the season.
CMF Automotive didn't go away quietly. Gary Linton supplied the power for the Metropolitans, hitting a home run, while Mark Young led the team with three hits.
Rob McMinn and Lindsay Torrance each collected two hits, while Brittney Low, Tamara Evans, Blair Mangan, Antoine Gagnon, Emily Barnett, Chris Burke and Josh Goodings also stepped to the plate for CMF Automotive.
The Metropolitans finished with seven runs, but NKD Deer's offensive production proved too much to overcome. The win gives the Muskies a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three third-place series.
One win away
Both series return to Tudhope Park next Sunday with plenty still on the line.
The CMF Automotive Metropolitans and NKD Deer Muskies meet at 10 a.m., with the Muskies looking to secure third place.
At 11 a.m., the Wagner Lawn Care Angels and Studabakers Beachside Rockies return for Game 2 of the Fall Classic. A victory would give the Angels the Fall Classic championship, while the Rockies will look to force a winner-take-all Game 3.
After a summer filled with fun, laughs, big hits and plenty of unforgettable moments, only two weeks remain in the SportsKlub Baseball season. It’s been one heck of a summer at Tudhope Park, and while the games may be coming to an end, there’s still one more chance to get the whole crew together.
SportsKlub players, friends and family are invited to the SportsKlub Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 7–11 p.m. at Barnfield Point Recreation Centre.
Throw on a costume, grab your teammates and come celebrate another SportsKlub season with music, food, a costume contest and one more night with the Klub.
🎃 Tickets are available now. Grab yours here.
Comments