All eyes on Hantsport in race for final playoff berth
The Windsor Knights secured first place as they completed their 2018 Nova Scotia Intermediate Baseball League Regular season Aug. 12 at the Hants North Recreation Complex on Noel Road, splitting a doubleheader with the Kennetcook Braves. Despite the Sherose Island Schooners sweeping Hantsport in a doubleheader the same afternoon, the one win gave the Knights the necessary points to clinch first as they finished 17-7 for 58 points and the Schooners 16-8 for 56 points.
Going into weekend play Aug. 18 and 19 with monsoon weather predicted, it was very unclear as to whether the Shamrocks would make the 2018 playoffs. Their doubleheader in Pictou with the Royals will not be played as time ran out with the league schedule having to finish this past weekend.
The question marks surrounded Saturday’s weather and the Royals doubleheader in Noel Road. If it was played, and all de- tails, will be in next week’s Valley Journal-Advertiser, and if the Royals happen to sweep the Jays, Pictou would finish with a 13-8 record and 47 points, one back of the third-place Noel Road.
The Shamrocks went into weekend play with a 9-11 record for 38 points and were hopeful of playing two games at home to finish the season against the Kennetcook Braves. If the Royals and Jays were rained out Saturday and Hantsport picked up a pair of wins Sunday, it would vault them over both Pictou and Truro into the fourth and final playoff spot with 44 points. Truro concluded their season Aug. 12 and finished at 9-15 for 42 points. In more action played Aug. 12:
Sherose Island Schooners (3) vs Hantsport Shamrocks (0)
Hantsport managed five hits, one of them a double by Adrian Lloy while Luke Thimot suffered the pitching loss in giving up six hits and three walks and seeing his record go back to 3-3 on the season.
Sherose Island Schooners (10) vs Hantsport (1)
The Shamrocks offence managed only a single hit in this game called after six due to the mercy rule. The one hit came from the bat of Matt Russell, who also walked twice and scored the lone run for the Shamrocks. Taylor Welch suffered the pitching loss throwing 5.1 innings and allowing 10 of the 20 runs he has permitted all season in this one game.
Welch’s record is now 2-2 as he saw his ERA climb to 3.35, as seven of the ten runs he allowed were earned. Adrian Lloy finished up, getting the final two outs and allowing one hit.
Kennetcook Braves (6) vs Windsor Knights (5)
This game took eleven innings to decide as the Braves won only their second game all season as Dustin Harvie pitched all 11 innings, allowing nine hits and striking out three batters. The Braves led 4- 2 after three innings and the two teams were tied 5-5 after six were complete. Cory Whitney, Joe Beaton and Derek Hart all collected a pair of hits in a losing effort. Beaton collected his 32nd and 33rd hits of the season to finish with a .379 batting average while also scoring his 18th and 19th runs of the season. Whitney remained red hot, collecting his 31st and 32nd hits of the season to finish with a .372 batting average, while Hart drove in his 14th run of the season with an RBI single as well as one other hit. Ryan Thoms collected an RBI double for the Braves, while Deryck White went three for four with an RBI.
Windsor Knights (9) vs Kennetcook (6)
Veteran Hurler Dave Swindall gave the Knights everything they were looking for as he went the distance in garnering the win while striking out three and allowing eight hits. Cory Whitney went four for five with an RBI, while Paul Humphreys went two for four with three RBIs. For the Braves, who suffered their 19th loss of the season, Justin Beach was three for four with two doubles and an RBI, while Glenn Harvie also connected for an RBI Double.
Noel Road Jays (12) vs Truro Bearcats (2)
This game was halted after five innings due to the ten-run rule. Pat Benedict hit a threerun homer for the winners while winning pitcher Shaun Marshall hit a homerun and collected another base hit and finished with three RBIs. Kenny Miller also picked up a pair of hits, while scoring two runs and driving in two others.
Truro (9) vs Noel Road (2)
The Jays collected only four hits in the entire game. The Jays maximized their bullpen, using five pitchers with Lee Spares suffering the loss in going only 2.1 innings allowing no hits but giving up four bases on ball. Justin Campbell pitched only one inning but gave up three hits and three runs.