This game had all the makings of a classic. The 2008 season opener pitted the Kingston Ponies making their debut in the NCBL, against the Nepean Brewers looking to show they were back after a long, tough championship final in 2007 didn't go their way! What ensued was a great baseball game that finished with the Brewers on top, but with the Ponies showing they will be a very competitive team in 2008.
Both starters brought their "A" games, Adam Oattes for the Brewers pitched a perfect first 4 innings while striking out 2 and featuring a diving catch in center field by Jon Zywicki to rob Tim Leonard of his first hit of the season! Ponies starter, Jed Vallier, was also very effective giving up just one hit in the first 2 innings.
The Brewers opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd inning, as Mike Gingerich singled with 1 out. Then with 2 outs, the pitcher caught Scott Tunis (on first due to the 2 out catcher rule) leaning at first base, but Tunis was able to get to second before the tag! Then Jason Krottner promptly singled to left to score the first run. The Brewers added to their lead in the 4th with 2 un-earned runs highlighted by an RBI single to center by Matt Beelen.
In the 5th, the Ponies finally got to Oattes. Leonard got his well deserved hit by leading off the 5th with a double to right field. Then after singles by Ben Anderson, James Hornby, and Chris Garrison the score stood at 3-2 with 2 runners on and just 1 out, signalling the end of the night for Oattes. Geoff Magnus, 2007 Tier 1 MVP, was summoned to relieve and after a run scoring groundout got out of the inning with the score tied at 3.
Pat Robb came on in relief for the Ponies to start the 5th and ran into some bad luck as Jason Krottner reached by error and then James Marshall singled to begin the inning. Then Magnus got a hold of a pitch to left-center field and over the fence for his first 2008 home run and re-storing the Brewers 3 run lead. The Brewers went on to load the bases with 1 out, but Robb got out of the jam with no further damage.
The Ponies threatened in the 6th with a single by Robb and a walk to Leonard but were unable to muster any runs. In the seventh, despite a lead off double by Hornby, the Ponies were unable to make the comeback and the game ended 6-3 Brewers!
Player of the Game : Geoff Magnus...2/4, HR, 3 RBI...2.66 IP, 3 hits,
3 K's, win
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