OSHAWA, Ont. – With the OCAA baseball championship set to run next weekend in Toronto, the battle for playoff positioning is still taking place heading into the final games of the regular season.
Playing under gorgeous conditions at Kinsmen Civic Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Durham and Humber split their doubleheader with the Lords taking game one 7-6 and Humber coming back to win game two 6-2.
With the forecast for calling for rain on Sunday, the Lords have pushed back their season finale doubleheader against St. Clair until Tuesday.
Durham (11-7) is tied with Fanshawe (11-7) for third place in the conference standings. Humber (13-7) has wrapped up regular season action and is in second place while St. Clair has already clinched the regular season title with a 15-3 record.
In game one against the Hawks, Durham allowed a 5-3 lead to slip away in the top of the sixth inning with Humber scoring three runs to take a 6-5 lead. The Lords were able to bounce back in the home half of the inning as they rallied to score two runs to retake the lead.
Eric Beharri (Burlington, Ont.) was able to shut down the Hawks in the top of the seventh inning to earn the victory.
Brendan Dadson (Bowmanville, Ont.) was 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs and an RBI while
Jake Legros (Whitby, Ont.) had two RBIs in the win.
In game one Durham did not record an error. That was not the story in game two as the Lords committed a number of miscues in a 6-2 Humber win.
Humber's offence was efficient as they chased starting pitcher
Brodie Harkness (Bowmanville, Ont.) out of the game in the fourth inning.
Durham's bats would finally come alive with two outs in the seventh inning. With two runs already on the board, Durham had the bases loaded with the tying run at the plate.
Jack Rankin (Orillia, Ont.) was unable to extend a miracle comeback as he grounded out to end the game.
Steven Hough pitched the complete game for the Hawks allowing two earned runs off of seven hits.
Logan Stewart (Lindsay, Ont.) and Legros had two hits apiece in the loss.
QUICK LOOK AT THE LORDS
Overall Record: 18-8
Conference Record: 11-7
Next Game: Tue. Oct. 18 vs. St. Clair (6/8 p.m.)