North Dufferin Baseball League - EST. 1930

Orangeville upsets Barrie in junior play

Liam Brown of the Mansfield Cubs steps back to first base as Tyrus Harper of the Innisfil Cardinals takes the pick-off attempt during Game 2 of the first round playoff series, July 21, 2024. (David Anderson photo)

July 23, 2024

Play in the junior division postseason's first round concluded yesterday (July 22) with the Orangeville Bengals and Innisfil Cardinals moving on from their respective series.

Orangeville, finished in sixth place and after suffering a Game 1 loss 10-4 to third place Barrie Baycats were not the favourites to advance into the second round. Game 2 in Orangeville turned the tides with the Bengals amassing nine runs in the first three innings before the Baycats tied the game in their half of the seventh.

With two Bengals in scoring position in the final inning, an error by Barrie's shortstop allowed Tyler Robertson to score the winning run.

Game 3 yesterday evening, saw the Bengals in control scoring three runs in the third, a single in the fourth and two more in the sixth to take the game 6-4. Barrie scored lone runs in the second and sixth innings and two in the fifth.

Orangeville now moves on to face the first place Creemore Padres in the second round.

The Innisfil team easily defeated the Mansfield Cubs in Game 1 by a 10-2 score but had a battle on their hands in the next two games.

Game 2 was a much closer affair ending in a 2-2 tie. Innisfil plated runs in the first and third frames only to see Mansfield come back to score a run in the fifth and sixth inning to stay alive for Game 3.

Mansfield held a 5-3 lead after four innings in Game 3, but a Sebastien Pasquali homer brought Innisfil within one and a timely hit by Patrick Jannetta scored Brennan Hedrick in the fifth to tie the game.

The Cardinals plated four more runs in the sixth frame. Mansfield clawed back with two runs in their half of the seventh but fell short losing the contest 9-7.

Innisfil finished in fourth place and will meet the second place Orillia Royals in second round action.

Both Creemore and Orillia had a bye for the first round. The next series is scheduled to start later this week.

Junior Playoffs Start

Logan Sheppard of the Orangeville Bengals tags out Dylan Brown of the Mansfield Cubs at second base during a June 1, 2024 game in Orangeville. Both teams along with the Barrie Baycats and Innisfil Cardinals are starting the first round of the North Dufferin Baseball League junior division playoffs with the winners advancing to meet the Creemore Padres and Orillia Royals. (David Anderson photo)

July 17, 2024

After an 18-game regular season, junior teams in the North Dufferin Baseball League readies for the playoffs.

Postseason play has six of the seven teams advancing with the Creemore Padres and Orillia Royals receiving byes for their first and second place finish.

Creemore topped the division with a 14-3-1 record to take top spot, with Orillia finishing in second with a 13-5-0 record.

The Barrie Baycats finished in third with a 10-8-0 record closely followed by the Innisfil Cardinals with a 9-9-0 record in fourth position.

Sitting in fifth place, the Mansfield Cubs had a 8-9-1 record and the Orangeville Bengals finished in sixth with a 6-12-0 record.

The Richmond Hill Phoenix struggled in the season picking up two wins and suffering 16 losses ending their season early.

A first round matchup includes Barrie and Orangeville. They start tomorrow (July 18) with a 7:30 p.m. game in Barrie at Dana Field followed by a Sunday contest in Orangeville at 7:00 p.m. Game 3 and a possible Game 4 have not been finalized as of yet.

Innisfil and Mansfield will face each other in the second pairing, with Game 1 in Innisfil tonight at 8:30 p.m. Game 2 will be played in Mansfield on Sunday at 5:30 p.m., with Game 3 in Innisfil on Monday at 8:45 p.m. if needed. A possible Game 4 is back in Mansfield on July 24 at 6:15 p.m.

Both the first and second round are a best of three series or the first to four points as ties are not broken.

Second round action will reseed the two advancing teams with Creemore and Orillia based on season records. That round is expected to start July 25.

The championship series is scheduled to begin Aug. 13 due to provincial championships on Aug. 9-11.

East Stars end win streak for the West

Brandon Watson of the West All-Stars is safe after sliding into second base before the ball reaches East All-Star Mason Walker during the senior division all-star game in New Lowell on July 6, 2024. (David Anderson photo)

July 8, 2024

After six straight West division victories, the East division squeaked out a 1-0 win at the 58th All-Star Game on Saturday, July 6th in New Lowell.

The junior contest on the other hand was a high-scoring affair with Team Spitfires handily defeating Team Renegades 10-2.

The senior nine inning game showcased great pitching by both the East and West teams with the contest scoreless until the seventh inning when Nate Kramer for the East crossed the plate on a single from Steve Barrett.

The West Stars stranded a runner in each of the three remaining innings but timely defensive plays from the East Stars prevented a run from scoring.

Kastin Winchester had two of the hits for the West including a single and double. Nick Hodgson chipped in with a single.

Steve Barrett and Brett Beardsall hit two singles for the East. Ryan McNeil, Trevor Smith, and Nate Kramer each hit a single.

The West started pitcher Eric Jones. He went four innings giving up five hits while striking out three.

Braden Doiron pitched the next two innings giving up a run on two hits, walking four and striking one out.

Hodgson pitched the last three frames, walking one and striking out one. Hodgson was named the most valuable player for his side while Nate Kramer was named MVP for the East. Both players received a prize package graciously donated by Allturf Ltd.

The 29th junior division All-Star Game was a lopsided win for the Spitfires as they assembled ten runs to the Renegades two.

The first few innings of the seven inning contest were scoreless until the third when the Spitfires plated three runs. They added one more in the fourth, two in the fifth, and three in the sixth frame.

The Renegades scored their first run in the fifth and added one in the seventh.

Hits for the winning side were contributed amongst eleven players with Joseph Parke, Ben Larsen, Nolan MacNeal, Liam Reynolds, Dale Critchley, Aiden Pain, Sevan Khalafain, Zach Owen, and Teddy McCollum-Kuntz each hitting singles. Noah Testaguzza hit a double and Zakery Hayward hit a home run.

Team Renegades managed three hits with singles from Ben Nichloson and Jack Larmer and a double from Josh Young.

Team Spitfires used a pitcher each inning giving the start to Luca Cutrone who walked one and struck out one.

Liam Reynolds pitched a perfect second inning with Nolan MacNeal walking one and hitting one batter in the third.

Joseph Parke walked one batter in his inning of work while Noah Testaguzza pitched in the fifth inning and allowed one run on two hits, walked one, and struck out one batter.

Aidan Pain covered the sixth inning striking out one batter. Josh McBride ended the game allowing one run on one hit, walking one with one strikeout.

Brady Reynolds was the starting pitcher for Team Renegades. He pitched two scoreless innings, giving up one hit, walking one and striking out three.

Cody Bryan came into the game in the third inning and managed one out before being replaced. He gave up three runs on one hit and walked three.

James Pritchard pitched 1 2/3 innings, giving up one run on two hits, hitting one batter and striking out two.

Evan McFadden pitched 2/3 of an inning allowing three runs on three hits, hitting one batter and striking out one.

Josh Young came in for the fifth frame to make an out and pitched the sixth inning allowing three runs on two hits, walking two and striking out three.

Anson Dupuis, who was also managing the team, came in for the final inning allowing two hits and hitting one batter.

Most valuable player awards went to Zakery Hayward of the Spitfires and Ben Nicholson of the Renegades, his second straight MVP title.