Senior Jays win two of three over weekend

June 23, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte

The Aurora Jays bounced back from two-straight losses with a pair of wins Sunday in North Dufferin Baseball League action.

In Creemore to take on the Braves in an afternoon doubleheader, the AA squad spread 19 hits over the two games to sweep the miniseries.

Game One, rescheduled from a rain-out in May, saw the Braves take an early lead in the bottom of the first inning when just the third batter in the lineup, Ethan Henry, brought in Jeff Akitt from first with a double.

Aurora answered with three runs of their own in the top of the second, with Brad Crosby, Ted Beadle, and Chris Rettie crossing the plate in order, yet the Creemore bats were consistent in taking a 6 – 3 lead after four innings.

Zach Wiseman came in in relief of Jays’ starting pitcher Nathan Robinson in the fifth, shutting down the Creemore offense into the seventh and final inning. And, as is often the case for the Aurora offense, the lineup rallied in the top half with five-straight runs, taking an
8 – 6 lead.

Rettie came in as the closer on the mound for the last half inning, allowing just one baserunner and earning the save.

Ted Beadle was the first star of the Jays’ 5 – 4 win in Game Two, jumping out to a quick lead they never relinquished.

The first two innings were all the Jays needed, scoring twice in the first and three times in the second. Beadle brought in all five runs, knocking a two-run jack and a three-run jack into the bleachers.

Creemore scored four times in the third inning to draw to within one, but were met by a solid performance from Crosby on the mound in the final three innings of perfect ball. Ian Milne earned the win after throwing the first three innings.

Beadle’s outing was the first multi-homerun game of the season for any player in the NDBL, and immediately tied him with Ian Rettie for the team lead in homeruns.

The wins followed a heartbreaker one day prior for veteran starting pitcher Andrew Bukovec, who threw the game of his life in a 3 – 2 road loss to the Ivy Leafs. Although going the distance and giving up just one hit, seven walks and unusually quiet bats for the offense earned Bukovec the loss.

The Jays are back on the field Thursday in Midland to take on the Indians (11-4-0), who sit fourth in league standings. The 8-4-0 Jays are one spot back in fifth place.

A mini road trip closes out the week on Sunday with an early afternoon game against the Creemore Barons (5-8-0) followed by a road game with the Mansfield Cubs (1-11-0) later the same day.

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