The Alvinston Indians opened their 2016 Senior Men's Canadian Fastball Championship in St. John's, Newfoundland, with a come from behind extra innings 7-6 win against the Bridge City Sharks, but followed that with a 13-0 defeat at the hands of the defending champions, the Galway Hitmen from St. John's.
In the first game, Caleb Keeshig took the mound for Alvinston and had a strong start. He allowed an unearned run in the opening frame, but had a clean second and third inning, as he recorded 5 out of 6 outs via the strikeout.
The two teams battled back and forth until the Al's found themsevles trailing 5-2 heading into their final at bat.
Tyler Pauli tripled to lead off the seventh, and later scored on a passed ball. Craig Lyons then struck out, but reached first following an errant throw by the catcher on a dropped third strike. Jones then singled to put runners on first and third, and Jeff Lyons and Brent Thompson both singled even the game.
Both teams scored a single run in the eighth inning, setting up a 6-6 score heading into the 9th.
In the 9th inning, a line drive catch by centre fielder Andy Triest kept the go ahead run at third base, effectively saving a run and allowing the offense to try and win the game for the Indians in the bottom half.
Jeff Lyons started the inning at second base (due to the international tie breaker rule). After a pair of walks loaded the bases, setting the stage for Michael Roote, who singled home the game winning run, for a 7-6 extra innings win.
Travis Jones got the win for Alvinston in relief of starter Caleb Keeshig. Thompson and Triest were both three for four in the contest, while Pauli, Craig Lyons, Jones, Jeff Lyons, and Roote all had two hits in the hard fought win.
In the second game, Alvinston was outmatched by the defending champions, the Galway Hitmen. Roote started for the Indians, and did fairly well, throwing against five members of Team Canada, who all hail from Newfoundland, and play for the Hitmen and defending champs. The final score was 13-0 in five innings. Travis Jones had the only hit for Alvinston, as Sean Cleary stymied the Indians, fanning nine batters through five innings of work.
The Indians play two more games Thursday, at 10:30am and 4:00pm.
