Jun 10, 2007 | Dan Thompson | 366 views
Terriers Dismantle Team Ontario In 4 Game Set
With a 12 game winning streak on the line, the Terriers cautiously went into the weekend with Team Ontario, looking to continue their climb toward the top of the PBLO.
Facing Cornell University recruit Cory Pappel in game one, the Terriers would have their hands full.
Not intimidated by the wave of red uniforms in the park (a Team Ontario mix of 20 players from their 16u and 18u roster) the Terriers got off to a quick start when lead off hitter Chad Marshall doubled in the top of the first, advanced on a Marty Chasles fielders choice and scored on a Joel Stubbs sac fly. Text book baseball. Brian Burton, who would eventually go 4 for 4 in the game then doubled and scored on a Jeff Hunt RBI. Jeff later scored on a Brent Mitchell single. The Terriers lead 3-0 after a half an inning.
The dogs tacked on another run in the third when Brian Burton smashed a ball into the gap ,and scored on a Jeff Skelhorne-Gross RBI. Terriers ace and National Junior Team right handed pitcher Brad Furdal manhandled Team Ontario hitters through 4 innings, before they scored a couple of runs in the bottom of the fourth. The momentum did not last long however, as the Terriers unloaded in their half of the 5th. Chad Marshall, Brian Burton, Jeff Skelhorne-Gross and Jeff Hunt all had consecutive hits, putting the game out of reach. Game one ended at 9-2. Brad Furdal got the win, striking out 16, giving up only one hit.
Slick lefty Nathan Linseman had the ball in game two for the Terriers and he would not disappoint, throwing 5 strong innings, leaving the game with a commanding 7-3 lead. Once again Brian Burton led the offense with 3 hits and 3 RBI. Rookie Joel Stubbs was also a force to be reckoned with at the plate, as he had 3 hits.
Shortstop Chad Marshall made several outstanding plays defensively, highlighted by snuffing out a Team Ontario rally in the 5th when he tracked down a ground ball behind the bag at second and threw a strike to first to nip the runner. The bases were loaded at the time and Team Ontario had already scored one run in the inning.
Dominating closer Brian Burton pitched the 6th and 7th, blowing away six consecutive hitters. The 7-4 victory was the Terriers 14th in a row.
Sunny Sunday at Riverside Park in Cambridge, right hander Billy Martin would put his own unbeaten streak on the line facing Cincinnati Reds draft pick, Cameron Gray.
Team Ontario grabbed an early 1-0 lead, but it was short lived when Jeff Skelhorne-Gross walked, stole second and scored on a 2 out RBI single by catcher Brent Mitchell. The game was knotted at ones after 2 innings of play.
The Terriers broke the game open in their half of the 3rd, with a three run outburst. CF Joel Stubbs led off with a single to right and then advanced on a Chad Marshall fielders choice. He later scored on a pass ball. Brian Burton and Jeff Skelhorne-Gross drew back to back walks. Brian scored on a double steal and Jeff scored on an RBI single by third baseman Jeff Hunt, making the score 4-1.
The Terriers added some insurance runs in the fourth. Matt Loughridge led the inning off with a single and came around to score on a double by Joel Stubbs to the left center field fence. Marty Chasles followed with a single up the middle, scoring Joel.
Billy Martin cruised to a complete game 3 hitter for the victory. The Terriers defense was also sharp, turning 3 double plays in the 6-1 win.
Right hander Tyler Fischer had the ball in game four. Team Ontario jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. The Terriers got one back in their half, on a Brian Burton double scoring Marty Chasles, who had walked. Two more Terriers runs crossed in the third when Joel Stubbs scored on a Brian Burton triple down the right field line. Burton was cashed on a Jeff Hunt RBI.
With the game tied at threes in the fifth, Team Ontario manufactured 3 runs to take a 6-3 lead. The Terriers bounced back with one in the bottom half of the inning when Evan Kipfer crossed the plate. So with just 6 outs left and their 15 game winning streak on the line the Terriers needed some heroics to keep it alive. It came in the form of an outstanding defensive play in the top of the sixth. With Team Ontario runners at first and third and one out, they attempted a double steal, but the runner at first left just a little early and Brian Burton, who was on in relief, stepped off the rubber, threw the ball to shortstop Chad Marshall who relayed the ball home to catcher Brent Mitchell. Brent applied the tag for a big out and a huge momentum boost, as the Terriers rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 7-6 lead. Burton closed out the game and the streak lives on!
Next up, a game Wednesday night versus the T-Birds.