Fredericton sweeps at home
P.E.I. Junior Islanders fall 3-1 in New Brunswick semifinal series
The Fredericton Royals took both games at home Sunday to capture the best-of-five New Brunswick Junior Baseball League semifinal over the P.E.I. Junior Islanders, 3-1.
The teams split the first two games at Memorial Field in Charlottetown on Saturday.
The Islanders cruised to a 10-0 victory in Game 1, which was shortened to five innings due to the mercy rule, but the Royals rallied for four late runs to pull out a 4-3 win in Game 2.
In one of the two games on Sunday, Sam Moorehouse went five strong innings for the win and Sam Beaulieu had the save as Fredericton edged P.E.I. 5-4.
Connor Jones suffered the loss and had three innings of shutout relief from Brett Hicken.
Corey Kavanaugh homered twice and Dan Bertrand also went deep to lead Fredericton. The Islanders were held to five hits spread out to Dom Ryan, Riley Gallant, Darcy Affleck, JJ. Oram and Logan Gallant.
In the other game on Sunday, Josh Lyons was the winning pitcher as Fredericton downed P.E.I. 11-6. Jordan Driar picked up the save.
Losing pitcher was Porter
Smith.
Fredericton broke a 6-6 tie with five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kavanaugh went 2-for-3 with a home run while Driar had three hits.
For P.E.I., Ryne MacIsaac was 4-for-4 while Chasse Gallant had two hits.
Islanders 10 Royals 0
On Saturday, winning pitcher Spencer Horne gave up only four hits and no walks while striking out four in five innings.
The Islanders scored six runs in the first inning to chase Fredericton starter Josh Lyons, and never looked back.
Dom Ryan went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead the Islanders while Darcy Affleck chipped in two hits.
Royals 4 Islanders 3
In the other doubleheader game Sunday, the Islanders took a 3-0 lead into the top of the sixth inning behind starter Brett Hicken, but with two outs P.E.I. committed four straight errors that led to four unearned runs.
Hicken and relievers Jayden MacLean and Connor Jones only allowed five hits and one walk, but were let down by the Islanders’ defence. Fredericton starter Jordan Drier went the distance, allowing only three runs despite granting eight hits and seven walks.
Corey Kavanaugh had two hits for the Royals.
Riley Gallant and Kyle Pinksen each had two hits for the Islanders.