Sports Review Schomberg Cougars Trisan Centre

The Bolton Brewers have mounted a comeback against the New Lowell Knights in the North Dufferin Baseball League Championship Series winning games five and six and tying the best of seven series at three games each.

The series started August 27 with New Lowell winning the first three games. The series looked to be over in game four with New Lowell up by one run going into the last inning, however Bolton managed to squeeze out the win and with the two recent wins have now forced a game seven.

Game five was played Saturday (Sept. 17) afternoon at Bolton with the Brewers winning the 2-0. The two team's best pitchers took to the mound in the close contest. Bolton manufactured both of their runs by bunting over runners from first to third and scoring them on base hits. New Lowell's bats fell silent with the team recording only two hits.

New Lowell's Brandon Norrie pitched seven innings, allowing two runs, five hits, hit one batter and struck out four. Pitching for Bolton was Mike Blackwood, who also pitched a complete seven innings, let in no runs, gave up two hits, walked one and hit one batsman, while striking out three at the plate.

Brett Chater, Eric Cirone, Shawn Chalmers recorded singles for the Brewers with Pat Warden having two hits. New Lowell's two hits came from veteran players Sean Connor and Todd Patton.

Game six was played Sunday at New Lowell with Bolton once again facing elimination. But again the Brewers beat the Knights this time by a score of 5-3. Bolton led early in the game scoring three runs in the second and another two in the third inning. New Lowell managed to score two runs in the fifth inning and one in the seventh, but stranded an amazing fourteen runners on base, four times leaving the bases loaded.

Pitching for the Knights was Steve Baldry who gave up five runs, six hits, three walks and struck out six Brewers over his seven innings of work. Bolton's Paul Cardarelli pitched five complete innings, allowing two runs, seven hits, walked three and struck out one Knight. Blackwood finished the game, pitching two innings and let in one run, gave up four hits, walked one, hit two batsmen and recorded one strikeout.

Hits went to Mike Wallace, Cirone, John Hutchinson, Pat Warden and Mike Blacklaws with Chalmers hitting a double for the Brewers. New Lowell had a single from Patton. Dale Lightheart and Allan Brownridge had two singles each while Norrie and Baldry each recorded three singles.

The deciding game seven will be played on Saturday, September 24, at Bolton with a noon start. The Brewers are looking for their third straight championship win, while the Knights last championship came in 2004.