• Ontario
• Southwest Ontario
• Hamilton Region
• Hamilton

LEAFS TEE OFF ON HAMILTON

Toronto took advantage of three Cardinals errors in the third inning to score eight times enroute to a 13-3 win at Bernie Arbour in IBL action on Friday night. Lake Molleson came in late in the game and picked up a couple of hits while former Cardinal Jonathan Solazzo went four-for-five at the plate, a triple shy of the cycle. In the game, Toronto would pick up 18 hits.

The Maple Leafs scored early and often. Jon Waltenbury, Sean Mattson and Will Richards would all hit two out singles with Waltenbury scoring on Richards’ hit for a 1-0 lead after half an inning. They would add to the lead in the second when Solazzo led off the inning with a solo home run.

In the third, Toronto would send 12 batters to the plate, scoring eight times on seven hits and taking advantage of three Hamilton errors. Dan Marra started the scoring with an RBI single and was followed by a Solazzo ground rule double that made it 4-0. Damon Topolie then singled to bring in another run. Solazzo would also come into score thanks the first Cardinal error in the inning.

Later in the inning Connor Lewis would double to bring in a run before Hamilton committed a pair of errors that three runs to score and give Toronto a ten run lead.

Chris Beer led off the bottom of the fifth with a double and moved to third on a Geoff Seto ground out and then scored to break up the shutout when David Vanderby grounded out to first with the bases loaded. Beer also would score in the seventh inning on Nate Mastervick’s sacrifice fly to centre.

The Maple Leafs went on and added two more in the eighth and one in the ninth while the Cardinals picked up one in the bottom of the ninth when Dre Celestijn scored on Seto’s single.

For the Cardinals, Chris Lazar took the loss going two and two-thirds innings, allowing nine runs, two of which were unearned, on 12 hits and picking up a strikeout. Rhys Tapper would come in to replace Lazar and went four and a third innings, allowing an unearned run on four this, walking one and striking out two. Jake Foden and Mitch Gardiner would each pitch an inning with Foden allowing two runs on two hits and a walk while Gardiner allowing one run on two walks.

For Toronto, Justin Cicatello picks up the win going five innings on the mound, allowing one run on two hits, walking a batter and striking out six. Mike Wagner was credited with a save going four innings, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out three.

Hamilton look to rebound on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Nelson Park in Burlington to face the Bandits starting at noon.

Winning Pitcher: Justin Cicatello (3-1)
Losing Pitcher: Chris Lazar (1-3)
Save: Mike Wagner (1)

Toronto Hitters
Jonathan Solazzo – 4 for 5 (Single, 2 Doubles, Solo Home Run, 3 Runs, 3 RBIs)
Damon Topolie – 3 for 5 (3 Singles, Run, 2 RBIs)
Sean Mattson – 3 for 5 (2 Singles, Double, Reached on Error, Walk, Run)

Hamilton Hitters
Lake Molleson – 2 for 2 (2 Singles)
Chris Beer – 1 for 3 (Double, Hit by Pitch, 2 Strikeouts, 2 Runs)
Geoff Seto – 1 for 4 (Single, Fielder’s Choice, RBI)

Tickets for all Hamilton Cardinals home games are available at the Bernie Arbour Stadium Box Office on game day. For more information on Cardinals season passes email iblcardinals@gmail.com or visit the team’s website at www.iblcardinals.com.

Become a fan of the Cardinals on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HamiltonCardinals.
Follow the team on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HamCardinalsIBL.