Jays set to take on Midland Indians in NDBL first round

July 28, 2015 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte

The final standings are in and the stage is set for the 2015 incarnation of the North Dufferin Baseball League playoffs.

Once again, the Aurora Jays find themselves near the top of the board, putting to use those heavy bats that resemble the offensive power of their major-league counterparts.

However, they don’t happen to be entering the off-season on quite a high note – in their final game of the regular season, the only one of last week, they fell to the Bolton Dodgers 6 – 1; their lowest run total over the entire season.

Bolton’s Damien Allison pitched the game of his life, giving up only four hits in a complete game, while the Jays were missing a good portion of their strong part of the lineup with such absentees as Ian Rettie and Chris Fafalios.

Granted, the team may not have played their best ball considering they had already locked up the second place spot in the standings. They finish the season with a 19-7-0 record, five points back of their league-leading 43 points last season.

Where they really made up ground, however, is the almost forty more runs they had cross the plate in 2015, thanks to some new faces and new strategies from old ones.

“We’ve been really pushing for the extra-base hits this year,” said coach Rob Wilson. “Our power-hitting guys have been able to do that, and it’s paid off.”

With the Strother Cup playoff placings complete, Aurora has drawn the ninth-place Midland Indians in the first round. They won their final two games of the season in a double-header against Creemore Saturday to sneak into a playoff spot.

Despite being a perennially-successful team, the Jays are still looking for their first senior NDBL title. They came within striking distance in 2014, losing the championship series in six games to the Ivy Leafs.

If season stats are indicative of what’s to come, then the series swings heavily towards Aurora’s favour. They swept the season series with the Indians, although had to put up a ton of run support to do so, winning 10 – 9 at home and 8 – 6 on the road.

Playoff schedules are to be finalized at a July 29 meeting between managers following press-time.

While the seniors are still looking to settle their dates, the junior league playoffs are already underway. As of press-time, the league leading Aurora Jays are down one game to none to the Ivy Rangers.

For stats, schedules, and more information, visit www.ndbl.ca.