Batting averages are down

The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals opened the Maritime Junior Hockey League pre-season schedule with a win and a loss during the weekend.

The Capitals scored a 7-4 road victory on Saturday evening to earn a split in a home-and-home series with the Pictou County Crushers, who won the opener 6-3 in Summerside on Friday night.

The Caps next pre-season game is against the Amherst Ramblers at Credit Union Centre’s Ice Pad on Thursday at 7 p.m.

The Caps, who opened training camp with 35 players, announced their first cuts during the weekend. The following players have been reassigned:

Goaltenders — Ben Gibbon, Dawson Rodin and Rylan Holder.

Ottawa Redblacks linebacker Kyries Hebert will be watching from the sidelines again because of an illegal hit.

The CFL announced on Monday Hebert has been suspended for two-games for hitting Montreal

Defencemen — Seth Morris, Will Proud. Austin Callaghan and Keigan Casey.

Forwards — Landon Clow, Sam MacNeill and Riley MacDougall.

“These guys have made it hard on us. They competed very hard and we are excited for the future of this hockey club,” said Capitals head coach Billy McGuigan. “Our cupboards are full.”

The Caps are hosting a golf tournament at Mill River on Sept. 9. For more information contact general manager Pat McIver.

At the Pictou County Wellness Centre in New Glasgow, N.S., Callum MacPherson’s three points led the Capitals.

MacPherson, the game’s second star, had one goal and two assists while Cam Roberts netted two. Alouettes receiver B.J. Cunningham to the side of his head in a “reckless manner” in Friday’s contest.

The penalty was issued after CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie held a telephone hearing with Hebert and a representative of the league’s players’ association.

Zach Thususka, who was named the game’s first star, Brodie MacMillan and Keiran Gallant each contributed a goal and an assist.

Marc Richard, who has scored three goals in the first two games, added a single marker.

Colin Campbell (2), Kayden Peck (2), Bennett MacArthur and Isaac Wilson chipped in with assists.

Ben Williams (1-1), Brayden Ryan (1-1), Abram-Village native Evan Gallant and Cameron Scott countered for the Crushers.

The Caps built period leads of 3-2 and 6-3.

Gibbon stopped nine of 12 shots for the Caps during the first half of the game, and Daniel Thompson blocked 15 of 16 in the final half.

Sean Julie (10/14) and Jeremy Robar (8/11) shared the goaltending chores for the Crushers.

It’s the second time this season Hebert has been suspended following a one-game ban for a hit on Calgary Stampeders receiver DaVaris Daniels in Week 3.

The veteran linebacker said at the time he had no plan to change his style of play.

“I’ve had over 800 career tackles and I’ve been in trouble

At Credit Union Place’s Ice Pad, the Capitals fell behind the Pictou County Crushers 4-0 and battled back to close the deficit to 4-3, before the visitors added two late goals to seal the victory.

Scott had two goals and an assist to lead the Crushers, who received single goals from Gallant, Dustin Sudds, Evan MacLennan and Brayden Ryan. Chad Wilson added two assists.

Richard scored twice to lead the Caps’ offence. Morris also scored while Hunter Bradley, MacArthur and MacDougall added single assists.

The Crushers held period advantages of 2-0 and 4-1.

Matthew Normore (21/21, 34:34) and Seth Crowe (10/13, 25:26) and split the goaltending duties for the Crushers. Rodin (17/20, 34:34) and Holder (10/13, 25:26) were Summerside’s goaltenders. five times maybe, so the ratio is not like it’s an every play incident where I have a play that’s illegal,” said Hebert. “I want to clean it up, the most important thing is our team and for me to be available to them.”

Hebert also said after his Week 3 suspension that he knows he has little room for error.

The Summerside Chrysler Dodge Eagles were simply overwhelmed in a sudden-death, single-elimination playoff game against the Saskatoon Angels Saturday at the Canadian senior men’s fastpitch championship.

Angels pitcher Devon McCullough struck out 19 Eagles in a 2-0 victory.

The Eagles, however, still managed to threaten in the fifth inning as they left the bases loaded after a single by Jason Smallman – the only hit given up by McCullough – and walks to Morgan Murphy and Brady Woods. Matt Dawson also reached base in the seventh inning after being walked by McCullough.

Woods was impressive in his own right on the mound for the Eagles as he allowed only three hits – all in the fourth inning, when Saskatoon scored its first run.

The Eagles, who battled to the very end, played solid ball and finished play at the nationals 2-5.

After defeating the Eagles, the Angels defeated the East Hants Shooters Bar and Grill Mastadons 3-2 to eliminate the defending Canadian champions.

Controversy transpired in the final game of Saturday evening between the Newfoundland Galway Hitmen and the Sooke Loggers from British Columbia.

After a play at the plate in the first inning – the Hitmen’s Mathieu Roy plowed over B.C. pitcher Scott Lieph at the plate – the benches emptied, including former Newfoundland and Labrador premier and Hitmen owner Danny Williams. Several punches were thrown and three players were ejected.

Then in the third inning, the Hitmen’s Ryan Boland headed towards the mound after an inside pitch, but the players were quickly separated.

Both teams were warned by Softball Canada and notified any further supplemental discipline at the event and beyond could involve eligibility for international events, provincial and league play.

“Softball Canada does not condone the actions of the Galway Hitmen and the Sooke Loggers in the championship round game of the 2018 Canadian Men’s Fastpitch Championship,” tournament director Lisa Down said in a released statement.

The Hitmen defeated the Loggers 8-0 in Sunday’s final. The core of the Newfoundland and Labrador squad has now won six of the last seven national championships.

The batting average for the major leagues is on track for its lowest finish in nearly a half-century.

This comes despite slightly more robust offence of late – hits topping strikeouts the last two months.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, there were 7,134 hits and 6,818 strikeouts in August. That left the season totals at 34,350 hits and 34,103 strikeouts, the first time this season hits led at the end of a full month.

The season’s batting average rose one point during August to .249. Unless it goes up to at least .251 it would be the lowest since .244 in 1972.