Round 1

Game 1

For the first time ever, the Bytown Battalion were heading into their first round matchup not facing the Capital City Cubs. The Battalion and Athletics have a long regular season history, including the ‘Canseco’ game, but no previous playoff matchups.

Game 1 saw the Battalion send their ace, Josh Soffer, to the mound, facing Kevin Lamarche for the A’s.

The first inning was a quick one on both sides, as each pitcher got a 3 up, 3 down inning.

The A’s got on the board first in the top of the 2nd on a Shawn Hopewell leadoff homerun. They would scratch across another run in the inning to make it 2-0 after 2.

Wade Wilson would also get into one, hitting a solo shot in the top of the 4th, to extend the lead to 3-0. The Battalion would get one back in their half of the 4th on an error by the A’s, making it 3-1 after 4 innings.

The 5th inning started the same way as the 2nd, with an A’s leadoff ‘home run‘, this time by Phil Brunet. After 4.5 it was 4-1 A’s.

The Battalion bats finally awoke in the bottom of the 5th, with 4 hits. Steve Renaud led off with a double down the left field line, followed by an RBI single by Alex Baldock. The inning capped off by a game tying, 2-RBI double by Matt MacIntyre.  4-4 after 5.

The A’s bounced right back, scoring an unearned run the top of the 6th, regaining the lead at 5-4. Lamarche was able to strand the tying run at 3rd in the bottom half, heading into the 7th it was 5-4 A’s

Soffer was able to hold the A’s in the top half of the 7th to give the Battalion a chance heading into the bottom of the 7th.

Kyle Craig led off the bottom of the 7th with his 4th hit of the night, followed by a single by Musahsi Takara. After a Lamarche strikeout, it was up to pinch hitter Andrew Goddard. With runners on first and 3rd, and down to his last strike, Goddard was able to muscle one over the shortstops head, and into center field for a game tying single.

Eugenio Matos came up next with the winning run on second. Matos, in his first at bat of the game, came up with the clutch game winning single, scoring Takara from 2nd and giving the Battalion their first and only lead, 6-5.

Kyle Craig finished the game 4-for-4, with a double and 3 runs
Steve Renaud had 3 hits, going 3-for-3 with a double

WP: Soffer (1-0)
LP: Lamarche (0-1)

Game 2

After the big Game 1, come from behind win, the Battalion offence was coming in hot to Game 2. The Battalion sent 2014 NCBL Tier 1 Pitcher of the Year, Matt Wing to the mound, to face upstart Derek Harkin for the A’s.

The Battalion got to Harkin early and often, scoring 1 in the first, 1 in the third, and 6 in the 4th, chasing Harkin after giving up 6 runs in 3IP.

Matt Wing was dominant on the mound, going the distance in a complete game, 5 hit shutout.

The Battalion offence was once again led by Kyle Craig, who went 3-for-4, with 3 more runs, a home run, and 2 RBI

The Battalion advance to the second round for the 3rd straight year, facing their friendly foes, the Capital City Cubs

WP: Wing (1-0)
LP: Harkin (0-1)