Fastball Day in Smiths Falls
from Terry & Debbie Shea
The sport of fastball is definitely alive and well in Smiths Falls given the quality of the ball displayed this past Sunday at the town’s ball parks. No fewer than six games played over the course of the day, and some excellent action with some of the finest players in the region and an excellent group of up and comers at the minor levels.
The annual Leeds Men’s League Showcase was the opener as the four clubs that make up the league all gathered at Lower Reach Park.
In the opener the Smiths Falls Madden Hearing Center Junior Redmen played the Greenbush Generals. The Gens broke on top with a four run rally in the second inning, as Smiths Falls pitcher Curtis Summers was fighting his control. The Madden crew fought their way back. RBI singles by Matt Alkerton, and Craig Nadeau in the fourth to cut the margin. The Redmen tied the score with a pair of runs in the fifth. Ryan Healey came in and pitched in the relief for the Reds and held Greenbush off the scoreboard through the middle innings. The home side took the lead in the sixth when Summers crushed a solo homer to right center. But the Juniors were unable to hold the lead, as Greenbush tallied a single run in the seventh. Smiths Falls left two men on in the bottom of the seven but were not able to score. In extra innings Greenbush scored what turned out to be the winning run in the top of eighth on a passed ball. Again the Redmen had an opportunity in the bottom of the inning but left the tying run in scoring position. Greenbush picked up its first win of the season with the 6-5 triumph, the Redmen record fell to 1 and 2.
In the second game of the triple header, it was all Newboro over Lyn. The 56ers backed by the pitching of former Redmen star Troy McLean easily outlasted Lyn 8-2. The Newboro crew is off to an undefeated 3-0 start. Lyn like Smiths Falls and Greenbush have records of 1 and 2.
To wrap things up on a very hot afternoon, the Junior Redmen faced West Carleton. The experienced West Carleton team featured many members of the 1998 Redmen provincial championship team. Included in the group, local product Brad Porter doing the pitching. The veterans gave the younger generation of Redmen a good lesson in quality fastball. Porter allowed only two hits over his five plus innings of work, held the Redmen scoreless until the fifth. Meanwhile Chris Hall was doing good job on the rubber for the Madden crew holding a power line-up from West Carleton. The veterans did finally prevail, as former Redmen third baseman Shawn Rebertz drove in three runs. Smiths Falls scored two more in the sixth on a triple by Matt Alkerton and double from Kevin Phillips. The final score was 8-3. Afterwards all the former and present Redmen joined for group photo, including coaches Ray Madden, Claire Porter and Wayne Hedderson .
To wrap up the days’ proceeding all three of Smith Falls midget teams were in action under the lights. At the Community Center the Midget 1 team defeated Athens, at Lower Reach the Midget 2 team edged Lyn and in Midget girls action Smiths Falls won over Greenbush.
The Junior Redmen next see action on Thursday night as they face Lyn. The game will be played in Greenbush, because of diamond availability issues in Lyn.
The sport of fastball is definitely alive and well in Smiths Falls given the quality of the ball displayed this past Sunday at the town’s ball parks. No fewer than six games played over the course of the day, and some excellent action with some of the finest players in the region and an excellent group of up and comers at the minor levels.
The annual Leeds Men’s League Showcase was the opener as the four clubs that make up the league all gathered at Lower Reach Park.
In the opener the Smiths Falls Madden Hearing Center Junior Redmen played the Greenbush Generals. The Gens broke on top with a four run rally in the second inning, as Smiths Falls pitcher Curtis Summers was fighting his control. The Madden crew fought their way back. RBI singles by Matt Alkerton, and Craig Nadeau in the fourth to cut the margin. The Redmen tied the score with a pair of runs in the fifth. Ryan Healey came in and pitched in the relief for the Reds and held Greenbush off the scoreboard through the middle innings. The home side took the lead in the sixth when Summers crushed a solo homer to right center. But the Juniors were unable to hold the lead, as Greenbush tallied a single run in the seventh. Smiths Falls left two men on in the bottom of the seven but were not able to score. In extra innings Greenbush scored what turned out to be the winning run in the top of eighth on a passed ball. Again the Redmen had an opportunity in the bottom of the inning but left the tying run in scoring position. Greenbush picked up its first win of the season with the 6-5 triumph, the Redmen record fell to 1 and 2.
In the second game of the triple header, it was all Newboro over Lyn. The 56ers backed by the pitching of former Redmen star Troy McLean easily outlasted Lyn 8-2. The Newboro crew is off to an undefeated 3-0 start. Lyn like Smiths Falls and Greenbush have records of 1 and 2.
To wrap things up on a very hot afternoon, the Junior Redmen faced West Carleton. The experienced West Carleton team featured many members of the 1998 Redmen provincial championship team. Included in the group, local product Brad Porter doing the pitching. The veterans gave the younger generation of Redmen a good lesson in quality fastball. Porter allowed only two hits over his five plus innings of work, held the Redmen scoreless until the fifth. Meanwhile Chris Hall was doing good job on the rubber for the Madden crew holding a power line-up from West Carleton. The veterans did finally prevail, as former Redmen third baseman Shawn Rebertz drove in three runs. Smiths Falls scored two more in the sixth on a triple by Matt Alkerton and double from Kevin Phillips. The final score was 8-3. Afterwards all the former and present Redmen joined for group photo, including coaches Ray Madden, Claire Porter and Wayne Hedderson .
To wrap up the days’ proceeding all three of Smith Falls midget teams were in action under the lights. At the Community Center the Midget 1 team defeated Athens, at Lower Reach the Midget 2 team edged Lyn and in Midget girls action Smiths Falls won over Greenbush.
The Junior Redmen next see action on Thursday night as they face Lyn. The game will be played in Greenbush, because of diamond availability issues in Lyn.
posted by fitzroyfastball | 6/10/2008 12:53:00 am
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