The P.E.I. Gaham House Bud Light Fawcetts have their medal. Now they get to determine the colour.
The Island squad made history Friday afternoon at the 2010 Canadian senior men's fast pitch championship in Charlottetown, becoming the first P.E.I. squad to assure itself of a top-three finish by beating Three Cheers Pub of Newfoundland and Labrador 1-0 at the Central Field complex.
The game was played in front of another crowd of more than 1,000 fans who started their long weekend a little early, as the playoff schedule had been revised to accommodate today’s arrival of Hurricane Earl.
Fawcetts first baseman Mark Arsenault, a batboy with a previous incarnation of the franchise in the 1970s, recorded the final out on a popup and pumped his fist in celebration, well aware of the significance of the accomplishment.
“I was waiting a long time for that ball to come down,” Arsenault said with a laugh. “It was pretty exciting.
“It was great to be able to celebrate like that with your friends and with families and in front of a hometown crowd that has supported us all week.”
The Fawcetts were beaten 7-0 in six innings by the Kitchener Rivershark Twins Friday night and will advance to a semifinal Sunday at noon. Kitchener, undefeated in 11 games, goes directly to Sunday's 2:30 p.m. title game.
FAWCETTS 1
THREE CHEERS PUB 0
The Fawcetts’ win earlier in the day, Chris Craig walked to start the top of the second, was sacrificed into scoring position by Kelly Wenstrom, and came around to count on Kevin Schellenberg’s two-out single for the game's lone run.
The Newfoundlanders threated to tie it in the bottom of the seventh when Jason Hill tripled to start the inning. Bryan Clarke then hit a towering fly ball to Fawcetts right-fielder Jeff Ellsworth, who has been nursing a groin injury all tournament.
Ellsworth made the catch and Hill tagged up and took off. Ellsworth’s throw was slightly off-target, forcing catcher Kelly Wenstrom to move up the third-base line, where he was met head-on by Hill a split second after receiving the toss.
Wenstrom held on to the ball in the pile-up for the double play, and Sean O’Brien popped out to Arsenault three pitches later.
“I had lots of time to set myself up to run through the ball on the catch and make a good throw, and Kelly Wenstrom made an unbelievable play to hang on to the ball.”
Trevor Ethier won a pitcher’s duel with Sean Whitten, as both chuckers allowed just six hits apiece. Whitten struck out five batters and Ethier four. Hill’s triple was the only extra-base hit of the contest.
Ellsworth and teammate Chris Craig were named to the tournament’s all-star squad last night. Ellsworth earned a spot in the outfield thanks to a .450 batting average and 1.000 fielding percentage, and Craig got the nod at third with a .400 batting average and .946 fielding percentage.
Despite their well-deserved laurels, the Fawcetts still know there is more work to be done.
“We’ve jelled all week as a team and we’re right there with the best in the tournament. The goal is still to win a championship and we have that opportunity,” said Ellsworth.
Added Arsenault: “I think we’re going to be even more aggressive. We’ve accomplished two of our goals, which was to be in the double life for the playoffs and to be in the medals, and we knew if we did that we’d have a shot to win it, so that’s the big goal that's left.”
Fawcetts second baseman Steven Larter dislocated his shoulder trying to avoid a sliding Hill while attempting to make a double play during the sixth inning, and did not play against Kitchener.
KITCHENER 7 FAWCETTS 0
The defending champs took command from the get-go, as Ryan Wolfe walked to open the game, stole second and came all the way around on a throwing error. That would prove to be all they needed as round-robin top pitcher Paul Koert held the hosts in check on a three-hitter with nine strikeouts.
Wolfe was the catalyst offensively for the Twins, reaching base on all four trips to the plate, including a triple and two singles. Rob O’Brien belted a two-run homer, and Scott Newitt added an RBI-triple.
Ethier lasted until the fifth, when Mitch Hardy came in to mop up. They combined to allow eight hits and fan five.
Rob Geisbrecht doubled and singled for the Island side, and Kelly Wenstrom added a single.
Fawcetts second baseman Steven Larter dislocated his shoulder trying to avoid a sliding Hill while attempting to make a double play during the sixth inning against Three Cheers Pub, and did not play versus Kitchener.
jjewers@theguardian.pe.ca
