Round 2 Recap

Game 1

For the 4th straight year, the Bytown Battalion and Capital City Cubs were set to face off in the NCBL Playoffs. After losing the first matchup, the Battalion were looking to make it 3 straight series wins against the Cubs.

Game 1 saw Josh Soffer square off with Brad Pullan, a matchup that might sounds familiar if you remember ‘Lightning-Gate 2017’

The Battalion offence had a strong first round, that carried into Game 1 of the semis. After holding the Cubs in the top half of the first inning, the Battalion went to work right away, scoring 2 runs on a Matt MacIntyre single.

They would get right back to work in the bottom of the 2nd, scoring 4 more runs on 3 hits, highlighted by a 2 RBI single by Evan Hammond.

The offence went quite in the final 4 innings, only mustering 2 hits the rest of the way. Lucky for the Battalion, one of those 2 hits was a 2-run homerun by Alex Baldock.

Soffer battled command all game but was able to go the distance, using only  143 pitches, and striking out 9.

WP: Soffer (2-0)
LP: Pullan (1-1)

Game 2

Game 2 saw the Battalion send upstart Japanese ace Musashi Takara to the mound to face wily vet, Andrew Spurrell.

The top of the first inning was huge for the Battalion, scoring 5 times on only 3 hits. They were able to capitalize on 3 walks and 2 errors by the Cubs. Kyle Craig continued his torrid playoff pace, with another RBI single. Takara helped his own cause by adding an RBI single of his own.

In only his third career NCBL start, Takara was solid on the mound. He finished the night with 5IP, 4R, 2K, 3BB, picking up his first ever win.

The Cubs battled all night and were at one point down 7-2. Heading into the bottom of the 6th, it was a 8-4 Battalion lead. After allowing a leadoff walk, Takara was replaced on the mound by Matt MacIntyre.

Jeff Gordon came up with a clutch, 2-out 2-RBI single, making it a 8-6 game. With runners on 1st and 2nd, MacIntyre was able to end the threat by striking out Josh Villeneuve.

After going 3 up, 3 down in the top of the 7th, the Battalion sent MacIntyre back out in the 7th to close the door.

After getting childhood enemy Chad Keohane to very weakly ground out to 2nd, MacIntyre let up a 1 out double to Kyle Dwyer. James Martensen followed suit, by blooping a single into right field, putting the tying run on first. MacIntyre then was able to induce what looked like a game ending double play before a classic ‘Heritage Hop’ allowed the Battalion to only get 1 out on the play. Dwyer was able to score, making it 8-7 with the tying run on first.

Chris Armstrong then came up and squared up the first pitch he saw for a single up the middle, advancing the tying run to second.

After a quick visit on the mound, MacIntyre said “I can keep throwing strikes, but they are hitting it hard…”. That was all Ben Milinkovich needed to hear, and kept the surgically repaired MacIntyre in the game for one more batter.

It turned out to be a great move as MacIntyre was able to induce the game ending groundout on the next batter.

The Battalion advance to their third straight finals

WP: Takara (1-0)
LP: Spurrell (0-1)
SV: MacIntyre (1)