Aurora Jays continue perfect postseason, heading to Championship Series

August 27, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte

The Aurora Jays are heading to the North Dufferin Baseball League (NDBL) Championship Series for the third season in a row after sweeping the New Lowell Knights in the semifinals.

The action began last Tuesday as the Jays opened up the best-of-five series in Aurora. Starting pitcher Brad Crosby got the home team off to a great start, sending the first three batters he faced back to the dugout after two fly balls and a ground out.

The offence would give their pitcher some breathing room in the bottom of the first when a hard-hit single brought in Chris Bloom to put the Jays up 1 – 0.

Although the Knights would tie the game one inning later, the Jays’ bats exploded in the bottom of the third. After Bloom picked up his second single of the game, he would be brought in two batters later on an Ian Rettie RBI.

After six straight hits, zero outs, and a New Lowell pitching change, the Jays suddenly led by four. Ted Beadle would add one more in the inning to give the Jays a sizable lead.

“This is what we’ve been doing all year – we go up and then just cruise,” said the Jays’ Ryan Lewis. “Early in the game, we fight, we make the pitcher pitch, work counts, do the jobs that move guys around. You’ve got to be doing that the whole time, that’s what good teams do.”

The Jays would play shut-down baseball the rest of the way, giving up one more run in the fourth inning to take game one 6 – 2.

After squeaking out a 4 – 3 game two win at home three days later, the Jays traveled to New Lowell Saturday looking to finish off their second-straight series on the road.

The Jays came out on top 7 – 2, extending their perfect postseason run to six straight wins.

The NDBL Championship Series has now been set, as the third-place Ivy Leafs knocked off the second-place Bolton Brewers in four games in the other semifinal.

Both regular season games between the two clubs were won by the Jays, 12 – 6 and 9 – 1.

Aurora is looking to win its first Strother Cup in its history in the North Dufferin Baseball League after being defeated in the Championship Series by the Bolton Brewers last season. The best-of-seven finals will kick off Saturday, September 6.

For full playoff schedules and stats, visit www.ndbl.com.