Playing ball once again
Senior Islanders drop opening games, but push Moncton to extra innings in second game of doubleheader
The Charlottetown Gaudet’s Auto Body Islanders forced extra innings July 11 in Moncton in only their first baseball games in nearly two years.
The Isles dropped both games of the New Brunswick Senior Baseball League doubleheader with the Fisher Cats. The host Moncton squad won the opener 8-1 and took Game 2 2-1 in eight innings to improve to 6-5. Charlottetown, which hadn’t played a senior game since 2019 due to COVID-19, is 0-2.
Head coach Myles Grady was pleased with the early showing for his squad.
“Guys played well, very impressive defensively,” he said. “There were just super plays all over the field.”
Due to work commitments, injuries and players without a P.E.I. pass, Charlottetown only had 12 players available for the doubleheader.
MONCTON 8, CHARLOTTETOWN 1
Moncton scored two in the first and made it 6-1 after the second inning en route to an 8-1 victory.
Sam Lund picked up the win, allowing a run on four hits in five innings. He struck out seven. Chris Leger allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two in two innings of relief.
Jake Beck took the loss, allowing seven runs on six hits and five walks in 3 ⅓ innings. Jonathan Arsenault allowed a run on two hits and struck out one in 2 ⅔ innings of relief.
Serge Vautour went 1-for-4 with a double, two stolen bases and three RBI for Moncton while Nick Hoyt had two hits.
Grant Grady went 2-for-3 with two singles for the Isles while Tyler Taylor had a double and Avery Arsenault and Jonathan Arsenault each chipped in a single.
MONCTON 2, CHARLOTTETOWN 1 (8)
Young lefty Tanner MacLean threw a gem for the Islanders in Game 2.
MacLean, who just turned 18 years old and is still at the 18-and-under age category, gave up four hits and four walks in seven innings. He struck out four.
“The talk of the day, of course, is young Tanner MacLean,” Myles Grady said. “Did he ever pitch well.”
Duncan Picketts, 19, caught for MacLean.
“They had a great, great
outing,” Grady said.
Logan Gallant was tagged with the loss.
Glenn Mark picked up the win, getting the final out of the top of the eighth inning with the Isles threatening to take the lead. Dominic Tardif allowed a run on five hits and four walks in 7 ⅔ innings. He struck out six.
Shawn Bartley and Shawn MacKenzie drove in the Moncton runs.
“They deserved to win, we deserved to win, too,” Myles Grady said.
Avery Arsenault went 2-for-3 with two singles, a walk and scored the Islanders’ run. Logan MacDougall, Tyson McInnis and Drew Grady each chipped in a single with MacDougall plating Arsenault for the run in the top of the first inning.
HOME OPENER
The Islanders host the firstplace Saint John Alpines (5-4) on July 17 for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. at Memorial Field.
J.P. Stevenson, the big lefty from New Glasgow, is expected to be available for the weekend.