Game 4 is set for Sunday at 4 p.m. in Peakes.
The Bombers edged the Chevies 5-2 on Wednesday in Morell as hard-throwing right-hander Rob Phalen out-duelled Morell lefty Troy Coffin in a well-played game, which went into extra innings. Mitch Power, Josh Coffin and Dillon Doucette had key hits for Peakes, who lead the series 2-1.
In the other semifinal, The Alley Stratford Athletics dumped Northside Gill Construction Brewers 6-5 at Memorial Field Wednesday. Game 4 is Sunday at 4 p.m. in Morell with the Brewers leading 2-1.
Dan O'Shea went the distance for the winners, who got three hits from Corey Dougay and a pair from junior standout Ryne MacIsaac.
The Stratford peewee AA baseball team dumped Cardigan Sunday afternoon at City Diamond as slugger
Drew Trainor hit two home runs and first baseman Carter Smith had three hits in the 17-12 victory. Stratford heads to the Atlantic tournament next weekend in St. John’s, N.L.
Hockey
The Charlottetown Islanders and the UPEI Panthers are preparing for the upcoming Quebec major junior and Atlantic University Sport hockey seasons, respectively.
The Islanders have lost plenty of scoring and the Panthers only have two returning blue-liners, which suggests it could be a challenging season for both clubs.
Ex-Islanders standout Kameron Kielly headed to the Winnipeg Jets camp this week looking for a pro contract, which is a tough assignment.
I talked to longtime Panthers volunteer Bill Mulligan at the track and he told me Kielly will be in a Panthers uniform, if he does not turn pro.
Charlottetown's Tanner McCabe, who played with Summerside in the Maritime junior hockey league, last year is out with the Panthers and the big, tough defender should improve his game with daily workouts. Tanner comes from a hockey family and needs little encouragement to be physical, which local fans will love. It will be interesting to see how he develops in a league, which is a huge jump up from junior A.
R.T. Rice, the big, physical winger who surprised with his great play last season, is back along with most of the forwards.
Harness racing
Live harness racing continues tonight at 6 p.m. at the city track with a 14-dash card.
The $2,400 top class has a reduced field with crowd-favourite Junebugs Baby on the outside. Clyde River horseman Don MacNeil's sends underrated Mick Dundee from Post 4 in the $2,200 back-up class and he can win. Summerside has a 12-dash card set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
There's a big card at Mohawk tonight with eliminations for the Simcoe stake for three year olds, the Elegant Image and the Canadian Trotting Classic for three year olds. Dr. Ian Moore's Classic Pro has Post 7 in one of the Simcoe eliminations. Moore's top two-year-old, Shadow Moon (Trevor Henry), and the Mark Stacey-trained Hudson Phil (James MacDonald) are also in to go.
The Little Brown Jug is set for Thursday, Sept. 21, and there is a large contingent of Islanders headed to Delaware, Ohio. The big yearling sale, the Atlantic Classic is set for Friday, Oct. 6, and it's creating a lot of interest since it is the only yearling sale in the region.
Pigskin picks
The NFL regular season got underway Thursday with Kansas City trouncing the Patriots by 15 points at Foxboro. Tom Brady was pressured throughout the game and looked like a 40-year-old QB. The Chiefs were 12-4 last season and now look like the best in the AFC.
In the NFC, I like Seattle to win outright with Atlanta also in the hunt. I love Aaron Rodgers, but I don't think Green Bay has done much to protect him or to tighten their defence.
I normally don't bet until I've seen two weeks of regular season action, but I know most of you like to plunge in Week 1. Let's take a look at four games:
Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers – Green Bay is 3.5 favourites at home, but I don't see them winning so take the points and wager Seattle.
Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears – The Bears are six-point dogs at home and I usually like home dogs but not the Bears. Atlanta by at least six.
New York Jets at Buffalo Bills – These two clubs are not very strong, but Bills QB Tyrod Taylor is mobile and can pass, it's Taylor over 38-year-old Josh McCown. Charlottetown's New York Jets Booster Club manager Steve MacLean thinks this is a good match-up for the Jets. The Prophet doesn't think so.
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys – The Cowboys are three-point favourites at home and star running back Ezekiel Elliott gets to play for Dallas. The Giants dumped Dallas twice last season in close games, but they're breaking in too many new faces early in the season. Another tight game, but Cowboys win.
Fred MacDonald's column appears every Saturday in The Guardian. He can be reached at [email protected].
