The marathon has now become a sprint as the 10-team Canadian senior men's fastpitch championship heads into today's final day of round-robin action at the Central Field complex in Charlottetown.
The defending champion Kitchener Rivershark Twins of Ontario have clinched a top-four finish and a double life in the playoffs, which open Friday. Kitchener improved to 7-0 with wins of 8-0 in five innings over the Glace Bay Mets of Nova Scotia, and 2-1 in eight innings over Blackburn Transport of Halifax.
Newfoundland and Labrador entries Three Cheers Pub (6-1) and West Side Charlies (5-2) have clinched playoff berths, as have the host Gahan House Bud Light Fawcetts (6-2) and Owen Sound Selects of Ontario (4-3). Three of those clubs will round out the top four. No team has been eliminated from the playoff picture.
Following are game snapshots:
KITCHENER, ONT. 8
GLACE BAY, N.S. 0 (five inn.)
Paul Koert and Grant Patterson combined to one-hit the Mets. Blair Ezekiel singled three times for Kitchener, and Scott Newitt added a pair of singles and an RBI. John John McCarthy had a second-inning double for Glace Bay.
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KITCHENER, ONT. 2
HALIFAX 1 (eight inn.)
Chris Shewfelt scored what proved to be the winning run on an error in the top of the eighth. Koert and Don Scott held Blackburn Transport to four hits. Pat Slaunwhite gave up just five hits in the complete-game loss. Shawn Hanifen's RBI-single accounted for Halifax's run.
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WEST SIDE CHARLIES (N.L.) 3
BROOKFIELD, N.S. 0
Sean Cleary held the Bluenose side in check on three hits, striking out nine. Glenn Ormsby singled twice and tripled for the winners. Tim Macumber and Rob Schweyer added two singles and an RBI apiece. Brian Urquhart took the loss, surrendering nine hits while fanning four.
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FREDERICTON 4
HALIFAX 1
Bryan Newton gave up just four hits and struck out eight as the New Brunswick representatives snapped a four-game losing slide. Rene Goguen had an RBI-triple and Rene Goguen an RBI-double for the victors. Tim Norris singled twice and drove in Halifax's run.
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THREE CHEERS PUB (N.L.) 5
FREDERICTON 2
Rob Greene scattered four hits and struck out four as Three Cheers Pub improved its record to 6-1. Colin Abbott belted a two-run homer for the victors. David Kirkpatrick singled twice for Fredericton.
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OWEN SOUND, ONT. 3
GLACE BAY, N.S. 2
Nick Dambrosio's RBI-double in the fifth inning snapped a 2-2 tie. Ben Wideman homered and Andrew Scott singled twice for Owen Sound. Stephen Strapp doubled, singled and drove in a run for Glace Bay.
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OWEN SOUND, ONT. 9
QUEBEC 2 (six inn.)
Andy Skelton homered and singled and drove in three runs in the late game last night to lead the Selects to victory. Winning pitcher Andrew Phibbs scattered six hits and struck out four. Luc Drolet singled twice in a losing cause.
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WEBSITE
The tournament website is www.seniormensfastballcharlottetownpei.com.
