MORELL, P.E.I. — Allister Smith was involved in two key plays in the 11th inning Sunday as The Alley Stratford Athletics defeated the Morell Chevies 7-2 to win the Kings County Baseball League final.
Smith blooped a single over first base to score Shawn MacDougall with the go-ahead run and then the second baseman caught a Taylor Larkin fly in shallow right to end game, the series and the local baseball season.
Smith fell behind pitcher Logan Gallant in his last at-bat.
“I was just hoping to get something in play and I was lucky enough I did. It fell in and we had three or four (hits) after that,” he said.
Smith started the night 0-for-3 before getting two singles in the last two innings.
“I was definitely due and it felt real nice.”
MacDougall had started the 11th-inning rally by hitting a single to right field on a full-count pitch with two outs.
“He was taking a lot of pitches just off the plate,” Smith said. “That’s what it took to get us started. You never know in a game like that what’s going to start something that finishes it off, but that’s what it was for us tonight.”
MacDougall had fallen behind in the count 0-2.
“I was just trying to stay alive,” he admitted. “Logan was throwing hard and I was just trying to get a bat on ball and put it in play. With two outs, you’re kind of in a desperate situation.”
Adam Smith and Dan O’Shea followed MacDougall by drawing back-to-back walks to load the bases for Allister Smith.
MacDougall had confidence in his longtime teammate.
“I just knew he was going to put a bat on ball and knew he would come through for the team,” he said.
Dominique Ryan followed with an RBI single to right field and Ryne MacIsaac singled home a run with a hit to left. Grant Grady cashed two more with a bloop over shortstop and the game had quickly shifted.
Pitcher Brady Arsenault took over in the bottom of the 11. After giving up a leadoff single, he induced a double play and the pop up to Smith to end the game as Stratford won the best-of-seven series 4-2.
MacDougall and Allister Smith have been part of the Athletics two previous championships in 2012 and 2014. They have made it back to the finals since but were unable to seal the deal.
“It’s been a while and you start to wonder if (you’re going to) get to win again before you shut it down,” MacDougall said. “I’ve been playing in this league for a long time. It’s pretty sweet to do it with this group of guys.”
Smith added: “I’m not getting any younger either and I wanted another one for sure.”
The Athletics scored twice in the top of the first when Ryan hit a leadoff double and MacIsaac reached on an error. Grady and Jonathan Arsenault each drove in a run with groundouts.
Troy Coffin settled in and held the Athletics in check into the ninth inning.
“Troy has been killing us all series long and he did again tonight. We got those two and then not another sniff,” Smith said.
The Chevies had a couple of runners on in the second and third innings against Athletics starter Jonathan Arsenault but couldn’t get the key hit. They got to the righty in the fifth for a pair of runs to tie it.
Larkin singled and stole second and scored on Scott Harper’s single. Gallant drove Harper in with a double on a full-count pitch.
The teams traded scoring chances the next five innings but the pitching and defence found ways to get out of trouble.
Athletics leadoff hitter Dominique Ryan was 3-for-4 with two singles, a double, two walks, a stolen base, two runs scored and an RBI. Randy Taylor had two singles.
Larkin had two singles, three stolen bases and scored a run to lead the Chevies while Gallant also walked twice. Desi Doyle had two singles while Matt Barlow and Scott Ellsworth each added a single.
O’Shea got the win, scattering two singles while throwing five scoreless innings of relief. He struck out three. Jonathan Arsenault allowed two runs on five hits in five innings while striking out one.
Coffin allowed two runs on four hits in eight innings for Morell. He struck out four. Gallant allowed five runs on six hits in three innings while striking out a pair.
MVP
Jonathan Arsenault of The Alley Stratford Athletics was named the Kings County Baseball League playoffs MVP Sunday night in Morell.
Allister Smith said the versatile, well-liked player has been the Athletics’ Mr. Everything all season.
“He hits, he plays the field anywhere, he pitches. He’s an athlete, he’s good at everything he does, and a great kid on top of that. You wouldn't have a better teammate.”
