The Times Advocate, 2008-08-20, Page 2322
51PO1? 1 J / S Times -Advocate Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Express fall short in 13 innings a ainst Tillsonburg
EXETER — After fighting their
way into second place in the
regular season things looked
good for the Exeter Express in
their series against the
Tillsonburg Red Sox, Express
spokesperson Joe Fulop said.
There were several good
things to come from this contest,
he added.
In a pre -game conference
before game two Aug 12 in
Tillsonburg, both teams agreed
to stick to playing the game and
to stay away from taunting the
opposition.
They did as they agreed.
As far as Exeter was con-
cerned it was a good day
because they pulled out a 6-3
win.
Derek Masse reverted to his
old form and allowed only one
earned run.
More impressive was the fact
that a good hitting team like
Tillsonburg was held to four
hits.
Masse also struck out 12 Red
Sox batters.
Finally, some new offensive
stars emerged from this game.
Tim Eifert had three hits.
Aaron Patterson came through
with two walks and a hit.
Terry Hogg hit a booming
drive in the eighth to break the
game wide open.
Chris Gosnell and Vic Oliveira
bounced out of mini slumps with
one hit each.
The Express opened the scor-
ing with a run in the third.
Tim Eifert doubled and scored
on a hit by Aaron Patterson.
Tillsonburg tied things up in
the same inning
A combination of hits by
Oliveira and Eifert plus walks to
Patterson, Burk and Grant
helped Exeter to go ahead 3-1.
There was no quitting by
Tillsonburg as they rallied for
two runs in the sixth.
The Express took the lead for
good in the seventh on walks to
Grant and Patterson plus a
Tillsonburg error.
One final run was scored in
the eighth. Justin Hayter
walked, stole second base and
walked home as Hogg's hit split
the Tillsonburg defense.
Tillsonburg 8 Exeter 2
The Express were hoping for a
sweep Aug. 13 in Exeter.
Unfortunately some problems
with the lights, a severe short-
age of defensive fielders and
some bad luck meant the
Express were not going to sweep
the series, said Fulop.
Brian MacLeod and
Tillsonburg's best pitcher bat-
tled on even terms for six
innings.
The Red Sox scored two rims
on three solid base hits in the
first.
The Express scored one rim in
the sixth on a single by Rob
Burtch and hits from Rob Blake
and a double by Hayter to keep
the Express close.
In the sixth, four pop flies were
lost in the lights or misjudged
leading to four Tillsonburg runs.
That ended the evening for
MacLeod as a pitcher. He
allowed two earned runs on six
hits.
The Express battled hard
throughout the contest but
ended up losing 8-2.
Tillsonburg 8 Exeter 6
With game four Aug, 14 in
Exeter, Fulop said the first rule
of baseball when dealing with
umpires is that the umpire is
always right.
This rule was challenged by
both teams as many calls of
balls and strikes seemed to be
based on the umpire's whim at
the time, Fulop said.
"I have seen many games in
my lifetime and I tend to accept
that the umpires do the best
they can under stressful condi-
tions," said Fulop.
"My vantage point point is not
the best but this may have been
the worst umpiring job I have
seen in all my time in baseball,"
said Fulop.
"Virtually every player on both
teams criticized the way the
game was called and the possi-
bility of a ruckus was a possi-
bilty."
Gosnell, who had pitched two
consecutive shutouts, started for
the Express.
He threw 161 pitches and left
after seven innings.
Fulop said Gosnell was the vic-
tim of seven walks and nine hits
as his pitches would not be
called if they were not down the
centre. Burk pitched a scoreless
eighth.
Exeter opened the scoring in
the first as Burk singled and
Grant drove him in.
Tillsonburg scored four runs
over the first four innings.
The Express scored four runs
in the fifth to take a 6-4 lead.
The rally began with a single
to Patterson, walks to Grant,
Hayter and Lonnie Hawke, a
End of season — Mercedes Kints was one of the Exeter Blastball players receiving
medals on Saturday from Jeff Keller and Katrina Robinson during the wrap up of the blast -
ball league. (photo/submitted)
drive by Vic Oliveira and a single
by Gosnell.
The Red Sox responded with a
rally of their own in the seventh
as the Red Sox finished with an
8-6 win.
Offensive stars on the day with
two hits were Oliveira, Gosnell,
Grant and Burk.
Tillsonburg 8 Exeter 6
On Aug. 15 in Exeter, two
excellent teams battled for the
fourth consecutive day as they
tried to qualify for the league
finals.
The game lasted 13 innings
and both pitching staffs were
stretched to the limit.
Both teams had many chances
to win and couldn't do it.
Errors played a key role as the
normally solid Express team had
an unusually high number at
seven.
The bickering between the
teams was at a lower level as
they showed a mutual respect
for each other.
The umpiring was a large
improvement over the previous
game, according to Fulop.
The fans stayed until the end
as the game was exciting as well
as important.
The Express opened the scor-
ing in the first on a single and
stolen base by Patterson and a
single by Hawke.
The starting pitcher for Exeter
was Burk who kept things under
control until the fourth when
Tillsonburg struck for five runs.
Five walks helped the Red Sox
as they ran up the score.
Tillsonburg gained another
run in the fifth for a 6-1 lead.
The Express were tired and
losing but they dug deep to rally
for five runs in the seventh.
Walks to Eifert, McLeod and
Patterson were followed by base
hits from Burk and Grant.
Both teams had their chances
but failed to score till the 13th
when the Red Sox pushed across
the winners with one hit and
three Express errors paving the
way.
The Express had runners on
second and third in the 12th but
a bunting attempt didn't work
out.
They also stranded two run-
ners in the 13th.
Burk pitched for three plus
innings allowing three earned
runs on four hits.
Hogg stepped in to hold the
Red Sox at bay until the ninth.
He was charged with three
rims on eight hits.
Masse gamely relieved for the
last four innings.
He was charged with two runs
and the loss.
He had pitched a full game on
Tuesday and needed to have his
team score some runs.
Offensive stars for the Express
with three hits/walks apiece
were MacLeod, Grant and
Patterson.
Chipping in with two each
were Burk, Hawke, Eifert and
Gosnell.
The OBA 'C' championships
will be held on Labour Day
weekend in Tillsonburg.
There are 16 teams involved in
a double knock out format.
The Express will be hoping to
meet Tillsonburg again to gain
some revenge, Fulop said.
Minor soccer weekly scores
U11 Boys league game with a tie scoring 1 -
South Huron 6 versus Falcons 1.
3 The goal was scored by Meagan
Goals: Adam Tait (3) William McVeeney and assisted by Jayden
Regier (2) Evan Hardie Vanneste.
Comments: A great game to Special recognition goes to our
play the team into the Challenge goalies Rachel Runhart and
Cup. A great job of stretching the Mackenzie Fulton for many
field and letting the forwards run amazing saves as well as Katelyn
past the defense. Regier for playing strong defence.
Terrific work by the defense- Good job team on a strong
men to protect the net and clear game!! The girls play their quali-
the balls out - fantastic work in fier for Challenge Cup next
net by Zach Smith. Wednesday at Nabisco against
The game of the year so far. Lucan!! Good luck girls!!!
Good job boys- everyone con-
tributed in this win!!! U13
Coldstream 3 versus South
Huron 3
Coldstream wins 4:1 on penal-
ties
An excellent effort against the
joint top team in the league with
all the advantages of home in a
playoff game.
We battled well in all areas of
the field and having came back to
tie the game on three occasions
with goals from Kevin Mann,
Kurtis Denomme and an excellent
headed goal (first of the season)
from Ryan Maas to tie the game
with four minutes remaining
We then hit the bar and had
another shot shave the post, in
the words of their coach "I don't
know how we stayed in it, you
were all over us in the second
half'.
Yet another big game in goal
from Rob Anderson who made
some outstanding saves through-
out and went the right way for
every penalty even managing to
push one onto the post.
U11 Girls
South Huron Lightning 2 versus
Grand Bend 1
The team played very well and
showed great determinatoin
throughout the game. Playing one
player short for the entire game,
the girls used great passing and
strong defensive play to win the
game.
The first goal was scored by
Maiike Van Wingerren on a great
pass from Emma McVeeney. That
tied the game in the first half.
It was later in the second half
when Danielle Smith drove home
the winner.
Stacey Willert and Jordan
Butler were fantastic in the goal
and Sarah Dietrich was solid on
defense, taking a couple of hard
shots to keep the visitors at bay.
Congratulations, girls, on a very
hard-earned victory!
U13 Girls Aug. 13
South Huron U13 girls played
an awesome game against the
Forest Falcons, finishing their last