Hantsport hosting Truro June 9

Windsor Knights beat Blue Jays twice, Hantsport, Kennetcook split games

Despite the cool wind and mild temperatures May 28, sunshine prevailed and six games were played in the Nova Scotia Intermediate Baseball League.

The Hantsport Shamrocks, after having their opening home weekend postponed due to rain, split a pair of games with the Pictou County Royals.

Shamrocks pitcher Matt Lloy delivered his usual shining game of pitching as he struck-out six Royals en route to a 3-1 Shamrocks victory.

The Royals scored their only run in the first game on a pair of Hantsport errors. The Shamrocks rallied with three runs in their half of the third inning as James Joice and Matt Russell delivered RBI doubles and Sean Croft provided a sacrifice fly RBI.

In the second-half of the twin bill, the Royals won 7-4.

The Shamrocks did themselves in by committing six errors in the second game, including a couple of critical errors at third base.

Hantsport rallied to tie the game 4-4 in the bottom of the third on three base hits and a walk. The Royals came right back in the fourth inning with two runs on a double, a pair of walks and a hit batsman. That was all the scoring until the seventh when the Royals added an insurance run on a pair of errors.

In other NSIBL play on May 28, the Windsor Knights won both games against the Noel Road Blue Jays.

In the first game, the Knights won 4-3.

The Knights jumped in front 3-1 after four innings before the Blue Jays rallied to tie the game at 3-3 with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings before the Knights scored the game winner in the extra eighth inning.

Devan Duffield and Elliot Dickson-Green connected for RBI singles while Joe Beaton went two for three at the plate.

Veteran Dave Swindall pitched an inning of relief to gain the win, taking over from Paul Humphreys who also pitched an inning of relief after Alex Sabean went the opening five.

In the second game, the Knights won 3-1.

The Blue Jays garnered five hits off Knights starting pitcher Ryan Clarke but could only manage to score one run.

Joe Beaton went two for three to give him four hits on the afternoon for the Knights, who scored a pair of runs in the first.

The Kennetcook Braves were also in action and split their double-bill with the Truro Bearcats. The first game saw the Bearcats win 4-3.

The Braves lost that opener in extra innings as the Bearcats scored a run in the bottom of the eighth.

“Logan Dawe threw great pitches through four innings and our defense was a lot better,” said Braves manager Connor White following the game.

“I think I took Dawe out too early,” he added.

Glenn Harvey delivered the big hit for the Braves in the first game with a home run.

The second game was one that had fans in attendance shaking their heads. Kennetcook won 10-8.

The Braves, under four great innings of pitching by Dustin Harvey, opened up a 5-0 lead.

The Bearcats came alive in the fifth inning, however, and plated eight runs to jump in front 8-5. The Braves were not done as they came back with five runs in their half of the sixth inning to take home their first win of the season.

Upcoming NSIBL action

Three doubleheaders involving Hants County teams were scheduled for June 3:

Noel Road at Pictou County Royals; Hantsport at Kennetcook; and Windsor at Truro.

On June 9, the Truro Bearcats are due to play in Hantsport.