I4C Victory and Kars split first two games of semi-finals (WITH DETAILS)

In the continuation of the first game of the best-of-five Greater Ottawa Fastball League semi-final series on Thursday night, I4C Victory held on for a 3-0 win over the Kars Aces.

Andrew Putnam earned the pitching victory, while Brad Porter had the loss, with relief from Luke Severson.

The second game of the series immediately followed. Kars won that match 10-8 to tie the series at a game apiece.

Brad Porter had the win in relief of Luke Severson. Neil Cooke took the loss and had relief from Andrew Putnam. Chad Milne and Matt Alkerton had homeruns for Kars.

info from Chad Milne

Game 1:
In the continuation of game 1 from eight days earlier, Kars and I4C picked up the action in the bottom of the sixth with I4C leading 3-0 and Kars batting with none on, none out and a 1-2 count on the batter. After a one-pitch strikeout to start, consecutive singles by Kurtis Summers and Nick Ellis brought the tying run to the plate for Kars, but Andrew Putnam was able to induce a popout and get a strikeout to end the Kars' threat.

In the bottom of the seventh, Kars again brought the tying run to the plate with one out after Danny Powers reached base on an infield error and Matt Alkerton was hit by a pitch, but again Putnam ended the Kars' threat with two strikeouts, securing the 3-0 win for I4C and putting them ahead in the series 1-0.

Game 2:
In game 2, Luke Severson started for Kars while Neil Cooke started for I4C.

After a close game 1, I4C came out swinging, pounding the ball and sending nine batters to the plate en route to scoring five times in the bottom of the first inning.

Kars answered with four runs in the top of the third. With one out, Brad Pender singled, stole second and was brought home on a single by Ellis. This was Kars' first run in 10 innings of play in the series to that point. Ellis later moved into scoring position on a passed ball and was singled home by Cory Morrison. Chad Milne then hit a two-run homerun to right field to bring Kars to within one run at 5-4.

I4C added a single run off Brad Porter in the bottom half of the third inning to make the score 6-4. Porter had started the second inning in relief of Severson.

In the top of the fourth, Kars put up another four runs. Matt Alkerton homered leading of the inning. Porter then dropped a single in right field, but was erased on a fielder's choice when Matt McNish made a nice diving stop on a Brad Pender ground ball in the hole between first and second. Pender then advanced to second on a ground out and with two out, Ellis grounded a ball that the I4C first baseman Putnam fielded ranging far to his right. It was then a race to first base with both Ellis and Putnam sliding into the bag. Ellis reached just ahead of Putnam, allowing Pender to score all the way from second base on the play. Morrison then singled, moving Ellis to third. Milne followed with a walk on a 3-1 count. I4C did not agree with the ball four call and while discussions ensued, Ellis sneaked home from third base. Scott Marion then singled home Morrison with Kars' fourth run of the inning, making the score 8-6 Kars.


I4C tied the game 8-8 in the bottom of the fifth scoring two runs, but Kars took the lead back in the top of the sixth. Ellis led off with a walk against Putnam, who had come on to pitch in relief of Cooke to start the fifth inning. Morrison sacrificed Ellis to second and Milne drove him home with a single up the middle.

Kars added an insurance run in the seventh. Pender walked to lead off and immediately stole second. With one out, Pender took off for third base and made a nice slide to avoid the tag by the I4C third baseman. He later scored on a wild pitch, putting Kars ahead 10-8.

I4C did not go quietly in the bottom of the seventh, putting a couple runners on base, but Porter was able to secure the victory with a couple strikeouts and inducing a popout to end the game. The best-of-five series now tied 1-1.