Aurora Jays come up short in rally against Leafs

July 19, 2017 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte

A seventh-inning rally fell just short of a comeback for the Aurora Jays in their only North Dufferin Baseball League action last week, falling to the Ivy Leafs 5 – 4.
Stuck in a rare offensive slump, the Jays fell short of five runs for the third game in a row while spreading out seven hits.
Stephan Vallee was the first to cross the plate in the game to give the Jays a 1 – 0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, before a string of hits including a pair of doubles plated four runs for the Leafs in the top of the third.
Down 5 – 3 in the bottom of the seventh and final inning, Ian Rettie sent one out of the park to bring the Jays within a run, but it would be as close as they would get with pitcher Jeremy Uylenbroek shutting the door on the comeback.
Nathan Robinson and Brad Crosby shared the work on the mound for the Jays, Robinson earning the loss after giving up five runs through the first four innings.
Crosby threw three shutout innings to finish the game while allowing four hits and striking out one.
Just their fifth loss of the season with under two weeks to go, it was the team’s third in the last six games.
A week of ups and downs has created a logjam around the top of the NDBL standings, with the 14-5-0 Jays now in a three-way tie with the Orangeville Giants and Lisle Astros for fourth place in the ladder.
Seven points separates the Jays from the league-leading and reigning champion New Lowell Knights.
Next up for the Jays is a crucial meeting with the Clearview Orioles (16-5-1) Thursday night at Lambert Willson Park in Aurora, who sit just five points up on the Jays.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
This weekend will feature a busy Saturday for Aurora as they host the 6-17-1 Mansfield Cubs at Lambert Wilson, before heading to Newmarket in the evening to face the 3-17-1 Cornhuskers.
Thursday’s postponed game will be rescheduled for a later date.
For stats, schedules, and more information, visit www.ndbl.ca.