Creeks return from road games with a win and tie
WELLAND – The Guelph Silvercreeks scored runs in each of the first four innings on their way to a 10-5 victory over the Welland Junior Jackfish in Intercounty Baseball Association 22U play Saturday night at the Welland Stadium.
The Creeks scored two runs in the first inning, four in the second and led 8-1 after four innings of play.
The locals added their final two innings in the seventh while the Junior Jackfish, who had been held scoreless in five innings following a single run in the first, closed the margin with three runs in the seventh and one in the eighth.
The Guelph side connected for 16 hits, left 10 runners on base and had four errors while Welland had eight hits and stranded 11.
Aidan Mendonza went 4-for-5 with two runs, two RBIs, a double and a stolen base while Sawyer Whitaker went 3-for-5 with a run and RBI. Ryan Cutten went 2-for-4 with a run and RBI while Owen Vickers and Owen Ellis both went 2-for-5. Vickers had a run and two RBIs while Ellis had two runs, two RBIs and a double. Jaylen Wood went 1-for-2 with a run and sacrifice bunt.
Garrett Thornton pitched three innings for the Creeks and he gave up an earned run and had a strikeout. Logan Miziolek pitched four innings, yielded three earned runs off four hits and had eight strikeouts while Ethan Malicki pitched an inning and yielded an earned run off one hit. He had two strikeouts.
The win came a day after the Creeks and Stratford Nationals battled to a 15-15 standoff at Stratford’s National Stadium.
Stratford fought back for the tie after the Creeks had shot ahead 15-6 after six and a half innings of play with three consecutive three-run innings. The Nationals inched closer with two runs in the bottom of the seventh and then tied it with seven runs in the bottom of the ninth.
The Creeks clubbed 18 hits in the match, but committed six errors and left 14 runners on base.
Stratford had 13 hits, committed three errors and stranded seven runners.
Ellis went 3-for-5 for the Creeks with three RBIs, a sacrifice fly and a stolen base while Judah McArthur went 3-for-6 with a run and RBI. Wood went 2-for-2 with three runs, two RBIs, a double and a stolen base while Ryan Cutten went 2-for-3 with four runs, two RBIs and a stolen base and Owen Sartor hit a double and scored three runs.
Bennett Moore yielded an earned run in four innings on the mound. He struck out seven and didn’t walk anyone. Matthew Cutten pitched two innings, gave up an earned run and three hits and fanned three.
Brantford Junior Red Sox lead the league at 4-0-0 while the Creeks are second at 3-1-1 and are followed by Welland at 2-1-1. St. Thomas Tomcats are at 1-1-1 while the Kitchener Junior Panthers are at 1-4-1. Stratford and Waterloo Tigers are both at 0-2-1 and the Hamilton Junior Cardinals are to play their season opener Monday.
The Creeks are to host Waterloo Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Hastings Stadium.
- Guelph Sports Journal