• Ontario
• Southwest Ontario
• Hamilton Region
• Hamilton

CELESTIJN LEADS CARDINALS TO COME FROM BEHIND WIN

Hamilton picked up its fourth win of the season as they defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 10-8 in IBL action at Bernie Arbour on Friday night. Dre Celestijn led the Cardinals going three for five at the plate, a home run shy of the cycle while Russ Burroughs and Benson Merritt would combine to pitch six relief innings to keep Hamilton in the game. Ryan White would pick up three singles in the game for the Leafs.

The Cardinals got off to a quick start as Jake Osborne led off the game with a double and then moved to third on Cal Murphy’s groundout. Tyler Hardie would then get on when Toronto’s starting pitcher David Ertl was charged with an error that allowed Osborne to score. Celestijn would then triple to bring the second run of an inning. A double by Chris Beer would push Celestijn across the plate to make the score 3-0. Hamilton wasn’t done there as TJ Baker singled to score Beer and gave his team a four run lead.

It stayed that way until the top of the third when Toronto sent ten batters to the plate, scoring five times, all coming in with two outs. Justin Marra, Dan Marra, White, Damon Topolie and Brendan Keys all had singles with all picking up RBIs except Dan Marra in the inning.

The Maple Leafs extended their lead in the fourth when Grant Tamane tripled to bring in Connor Lewis who had opened up the inning with a double. Toronto would add a run in the top of the fifth to take a 7-4 lead but Hardie would score on a Baker fielder’s choice in the bottom half of the inning to make it a two run game again.

Topolie would give Toronto a three run lead once again in the top of the seventh as he hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Justin Marra.

However, the Cardinals bats came alive once again, scoring five times after the stretch. Murphy opened the inning with a single before Hardie was hit by a pitch. Celestijn then singled to load up the bases. Baker would then reach on a fielder’s choice that saw the ball drop between three fielders but because Celestijn had to hold up to see it if it was caught he was thrown out. The hit did allow Murphy to come in to score. Jake Foden then singled to bring in Hardie and make it a one run game. Jason deVos then would single to tie up the game. On the play Toronto tried to get deVos at second but the throw went out into right field which allowed the eventual game winning run to cross the plate. Geoff Seto would then single in an insurance run to make it 10-8.

For the Cardinals, Chris Lazar started and went three plus innings, allowing six runs on ten hits, walking one and striking out two. Burroughs came in to relieve Lazar and went three innings, allowing two runs, one of which was unearned, on one hit, walking two and striking out one. Merritt picked up the win going three innings, allowing two hits and a walk.

For Toronto, David Ertl went six innings, allowing five runs, one was unearned, on seven hits, walking three and striking out two. Adam Marra would take over for Ertl to start the seventh and was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs, only three were earned, on five hits. Marek Deska pitched the final inning allowing two hits and striking out two batters.

The Cardinals will now face the Brantford Red Sox in a home and home series that starts on Saturday afternoon in Brantford. Both teams will then come to Bernie Arbour on Sunday to finish off the weekend. The first 50 kids that come through the Bernie Arbour gates on Sunday will receive a water bottle courtesy of the Hamilton Cardinals. First pitch for both days is scheduled for 2pm.