Sweet victory
Sooners back in win column with victory over Wildcats
The Sydney Sooners are back to their winning ways thanks to the “Brew Crew.”
Nate Brewer tossed his third consecutive complete-game victory and Justin Brewer (no relation to Nate) socked a home run over the right field fence to lead the Sooners to a 5-3 win over the Kentville Wildcats (2-9) on Friday.
The win puts the Sooners (84) back into first place, half a game ahead of the Dartmouth Moosehead Dry (7-4) and a game and a half ahead of the third-place Truro Bearcats (6-5).
The Sooners had been sitting comfortably atop the Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League standings with a record of 7-2 entering the second game of last Saturday’s doubleheader against the Dry.
The team’s five-game winning streak was ended when Dartmouth edged the Cape Breton squad by a score of 3-2. The next day, the Sooners were pounded 14-1 by the Halifax Pelham Molson Canadians.
The Sooners got off to a rough start at Memorial Park in Kentville on Friday, when Brewer surrendered three runs in the second inning as the Wildcats surged ahead 3-1.
But the left-handed hurler, who had tossed back-to-back complete-game shutouts heading into Friday’s game, would not surrender another run as the Sooners came back to score four runs over the final six innings to take the win.
“He’s been pitching great,” said Sooners manager Jim (Rico) McEachern.
“That third inning was the only real hiccup he has had lately, but he bounced right back and shut them down the rest of the game — that means he has given up runs in just one of the past 27 innings he has pitched.”
The other Brewer, Justin, was at the heart of the Sooners’ 13hit attack with a solo homer in the top of the fourth inning.
Sydney was without two regulars — catcher Matt Denney and third baseman Cory Christie, both of whom were unable to make the trip.
McEachern said he will likely give the ball to 19-year-old pitcher Logan Aker in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader. The first match of the twinbill is set for 12 noon, while the second game is scheduled for 3 p.m.
The Sooners are back home at the Susan McEachern Memorial Ball Park for three games next weekend against Halifax.