Game 1

After a long year, the Battalion were looking for revenge after losing to the Brewers in the finals the last 2 years.

Game 1 saw 2 former Pitcher of the Year winners go head to head. The Battalion sent Matt Wing to the mound to faceoff with Geoff Magnus.

The first few innings went as expected with not much offence on either side.

The Battalion struck first in the top of the third. Sam McIntosh was able to work a 1-out walk, followed by a Renaud single. Baldock was able to hit a groundball to shortstop and reach on an error by the first baseman, scoring McIntosh. Kyle Craig followed that with an RBI single, making it 2-0 after 3

After a few scoreless innings, the Brewers were still trying to break through against Wing. In the bottom of the 5th, Scott Tunis attempted to start a 2-out rally with a single. On the very next pitch, Tim Feren laced a double into the gap which looked like it was easily going to score Tunis. The baseball Gods were shining on the Battalion this night as the ball took a fortunate hop over the fence for a ground rule double. Wing was then able to get the next batter to pop out to end the threat

Wing was able to work his cutter and keep the Brewers at bay all night. He finished off his complete game shutout without a single strikeout, and only 3 walks.

Battalion lead the series 1-0

WP: Wing (2-0)
LP: Magnus (0-1)

Game 2

Game 2 saw two more aces go head to head in Nick Gazo and Josh Soffer. Coming into this game the Battalion had never beaten Gazo in the finals (spoiler alert, they still havent)

Both pitchers made quick work in the first 2 innings, each going 6 up, 6 down.

The Brewers were able to get on the board first after 3 straight two out hits, highlighted by a 2-RBI double by Tim Feren.

The Battalion were able to answer quickly, scoring 2 of their own in the bottom of the 4th. Evan Hammond was able to draw a lead off walk. After advancing to second, Hammond would score on a Matt MacIntyre single. Musashi Takara would follow that up with an RBI double of his own, scoring MacIntyre and evening the score at 2

However it was not meant to be for the Battalion tonight. The Brewers were able to claw across 2 more in the 6th on a Scott Tunis, 2-RBI double.

Gazo shut the door the final 2 innings, not allowing a runner past first in the final 3 innings.

Series tied 1-1

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

Game 3

Game 3 saw each team send a pitcher to the mound with very different resumes. The Brewers sent veteran stud Adam Oattes to the mound the face the Battalion’s upstart Japanese ace Musashi ‘Battalion Stallion’ Takara.

It was Takara’s 2nd start of the playoffs, equalling his career total.

It was a bit of a rocky start for Takara as he allowed a leadoff single to Scott Tunis. Tunis would come around to score on an RBI ground out by Geoff Magnus.

After a sleepy first few innings at the plate for the Battalion, walk-off her Eugenio Matos woke everyone up with a 1 out double. Steve Renaud followed that with a single of his own, scoring Matos. After a groundout, Kyle Craig came up and continued his torrid playoffs, scoring Renaud on an RBI single.

The Battalion would stay on Oattes, adding two more in the top of the 5th on a 2RBI single by Evan Hammond.

Heading into the bottom of 6 it was a 4-1 Battalion lead.

Oattes helped his own cause by leading off the inning with a walk, followed by a single by Magnus. Keith Blouin came up next and squeaked one by third base. Oattes chugged around 3rd trying to score but Matt MacIntyre threw a missile to home plate to prevent him from scoring and getting a huge first out.

The Brewers were able to scratch 2 across during the inning, cutting the lead to 4-3 after 6.

Steve Renaud was once again the spark in the Battalion offence in the top of the 7th. After reaching on a 1-out single, Renaud promptly stole 2nd base. The next pitch saw Evan Hammond ground to shortstop. Renaud went to third and never stopped and was able to beat the throw at the plate for a huge insurance run. The Battalion took that momentum and rattled off 4 straight hits, adding 2 more runs to extend the lead to 7-3

Takara went out in the 7th and did what he had all night. Takara’s final line was 7.0IP, 1K, 3BB, 6H, 3R, 2ER

Battalion lead series 2-1

WP: Takara (2-0)
LP: Oattes (1-1)

Game 4

Game 4 saw the Battalion send their horse to the mound in Josh Soffer, to face off against perennial stud Geoff Magnus.

The game started with a bang as Scott Tunis continued his hot finals with a leadoff double to deep center. Thankfully the Battalion opted for the home game in Kanata to play with the deeper park.

Soffer settled in from there stranding Tunis at second after getting Feren, Fitzgerald, and Magnus in order.

The Battalion offence started the same way with a leadoff double by, who else, Steve Renaud. After advancing to third on a ground out, Renaud was able to score on a Kyle Craig sac fly.

Alex Baldock came up next and legged out an infield single. The reigning Battalion RBI champ Matt MacIntyre followed suit with a deep double to center, scoring Baldock from first. Stupidly, the Battalion opted for the home game in Kanata to play with the deeper park.

The Brewers didnt take long to get the runs back, scratching 2 across in the top of the 3rd on another double by Tunis. After 3 it was all square at 2

The Battalion offence was sputtering since the first inning, with Magnus retiring 9 in a row until the Battalion Stallion was able to draw a 2 out walk in the 4th. Takara was able to steal 2nd, then advance to 3rd on a pass ball. Ryan ‘The The The The Heaviest’ Dillon was up and took Magnus to a full count. After a 9 pitch at bat, Dillon came up with the biggest hit of the series for the Battalion, lacing a line drive down the first base line, scoring Takara and giving the Battalion a 3-2 lead after 4.

It was all Battalion from there, scoring 3 more in the 5th, and 2 in the 6th to go up 8-2 heading into the 7th.

After a little bit of a scare, Soffer was able to calmly set down the Brewers to win the championship.

Soffer finished off the game with 7.0IP, 4K, 1BB, 8H, 3R, 2ER

Battalion win the finals, 3-1

WP: Soffer (3-1)
LP: Magnus (0-2)

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)

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)

The shorthanded Battalion headed out (waaaaay out) to beautiful Sanscartier Park to square off with the RiverHawks.

Braden McGinnis was making his first start of the year and was solid.

The offense got off to a good start for the Battalion, scoring one in the first, and 3 in the second highlighted by an RBI double by Ryan Dillon, and a 2 RBI single by Sam McIntosh.

The Riverhawks bounced right back, scoring 3 of their own in the bottom of the second after 3 straight walks.

The teams would exchange runs and head into the bottom of the 7th 5-5 where the RiverHawks were able to scratch across a run, winning 6-5

The Battalion face off with the NitaBeer Panthers on Tuesday.

The winner of the Ponies vs Battalion game would move into first place in the standings and set themselves up for a good first round matchup.

Since it was a big game, the Battalion, as always, decided to leave their bats at home.

Charlie Crabb took the mound and was his dominant self, going 6 innings, allowing only one unearned run.

The Battalion would strand 10 baserunners, 7 in scoring position in the 6 inning game.

The only run of the game reached on an error and scored on a sac fly.

Each team scored a run in the 7th before the lights went out, reverting the game to the 6th inning for a 1-0 Ponies final

WP: Macdonal (3-1)
LP: Crabb (4-3)

Old Bavaria Tall Can Player of the Game

Charlie Crabb was the only one who did anything well. Go Charlie!

The Battalion were looking to extend their win streak to 5 and give themselves a good shot at the pennant coming into their game with the RiverHawks.

God did not want the game to start on time as there was a 15 minute rain delay to start things off.

Thankfully, McCarthy Stadium has great drainage and the game was able to continue.

Josh Soffer took the mound and was his dominant self, going a complete game (his 8th of the season), allowing only 1 run on 4 hits.

The Battalion would get all the offense they needed in the first inning, scoring 2 runs on RBI singles from Matt MacIntyre and Evan Hammond

The Battalion held on for a 2-1 win

The Battalion’s next game is a biggie against the Kingston Ponies

WP: Soffer (8-0)
LP: Desjardins (0-1)

Canadian Tall Can Player of the Game

Josh Soffer was the easy choice here, putting the team on his back en route to the 2-1 win

The Battalion were looking to extend their win streak to a season long 4 game on Thursday night against the Ottawa Sweat Sox.

Casey Floyd got his second start of the year and was dominant. He went 4.1 innings of no hit baseball, allowing 0 runs.

The offense was hot from the start, scoring 3 in the first, and 4 in the 2nd before adding 3 in the 5th to win 10-0.

Evan Hammond and Ryan Dillon each had good nights with 3 RBIs each.

WP: Floyd (1-2)
LP: Groves (0-3)

Undetermined Tall Can Player of the Game

Casey Floyd was an obvious choice here, throwing 4.1 innings of no hit, shutout baseball. Word on the street is he didnt even smash a bottle after the game, showing he was truly on his A game.

The Battalion were looking to avenge their 7-0 defeat to the Panthers in the last game between the two teams. The teams were separated by only 0.5 games in the standing heading into the game.

The Battalion sent Josh Soffer to the mound to square up against Mike Hluschuk for the Panthers.

The Battalion were able to get out of a jam in the first after back-to-back 1 out bunt singles put runners on first and second. After striking out Hluschuk, Soffer was able to induce an inning ending ground ball.

The Battalion would get the first run of the game in their half of the 1st. Kyle Craig would reach on an error, advance on a ground ball, and score on an Alex Baldock sac fly. A little small ball had the Battalion up 1-0 after 1.

Things would stay that way until the 3rd. After a leadoff double by Andrew Goddard, and a walk by Eugenio Matos, Sam McIntosh came up to the plate with 1 out and runners on 2nd and 3rd. McIntosh was clearly hit with a ball, but the umpire immediately called a foul ball (even though the ball went in fair territory, figure that out). After all the dust was settled McIntosh popped out sending Alex Baldock up to the plate. Baldock promptly hit a massive 3 run shot, leaving no doubts in anyone’s mind if it was fair or foul or off his arm. This put the Battalion up 4-0 after 3.

The Battalion would add 4 more in the 5th, capped off by a 2RBI double by Goddard. Matt MacIntyre also added his 19th RBI of the year.

Soffer would allow only one unearned run over his 7 innings of work, improving his ERA to 1.85

The Battalion are back at it Thursday against the Sweat Sox

WP: Soffer (7-0)
LP: Hluschuk (4-1)

HR: Baldock (3)

James Ready Tall Can Player of the Game

Seems like every game Soffer pitches it could be him, but he didnt stick around for beers so the easy choice was Alex Baldock. Baldock went 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, and 4 RBIs.

The Battalion and Athletics had not squared off since NCBL Opening Day, where the A’s walked off the Battalion in a comeback win.

The atmosphere was not quite the same and it was good ol’ fashioned 9 vs 9 baseball. The game was delayed for 10 minutes as the 9th A’s player casually strolled in as if not caring the game was waiting for his arrival.

The game started off in classic Battalion fashion as they allowed an unearned run in the top of the 1st inning. Charlie Crabb, who was making his first start against his former team, shrugged it off and was solid the entire game.

The Battalion were not able to scratch anything across against A’s starter Phil Brunet until the 3rd inning where with 2 outs Matt MacIntyre retook the team lead in RBI with a clutch 3 run double. Drew McCormick followed suit cashing MacIntyre from 2nd, making it 4-1 after 3 complete.

The Battalion would tack on some insurance in the bottom of the 6th. After lead off hits by Crabb and Anthony De Young, Kyle Craig and Evan Hammond hit back to back doubles, scoring 3 runs. MacIntyre would add his 4th RBI of the game later in the inning to make the lead 9-1

Crabb finished the game off strong, finishing the game with a line of 7IP, 6H, 1BB, 4K, 2R, 1ER.

The Battalion improve to 10-6-1 on the year.

WP: Crabb (4-2)
LP: Brunet (0-1)

Brava Beer of Summer Tall Can Player of the Game

Charlie Crabb got the nod for player of the game, going the distance on the mound while also adding a hit and a run scored at the dish.

The Battalion were looking to punch their ticket to the NCBL Big Dance on Tuesday night, and who better to do it against then their first round foes of the last two years, the Capital City Cubs.

The Battalion sent reigning Rookie of the Year, Josh Soffer to the mound, looking to improve on his 5-0 record.

It was the offense that started strong for the Battalion. Kyle Craig led off the game with a single up the middle, promptly followed by Steve Renaud lacing a double to the wall (more from him later).

Alex Baldock would score Craig on a groundout, followed by a sac fly by Musashi Takara. 2-0 Battalion after 1.

The Battalion would add 3 more in the 2nd with the help of some well placed hits. Renaud would add an RBI single to make it 3-0 in the inning.

Soffer would cruise all night, allowing only 6 baserunners in hit 6 innings of work. Charlie Crabb would come in to close the door, throwing a scoreless 7th.

Renaud was not done however, as in the top of the 7th he laced his 2nd home run of the year, capping off his 4-for-5 night with 2 double, a home run, and 2 RBI.

The Battalion popped champagne as they clinched their spot in the NCBL playoffs. Next up is the hangover game, Friday night in Gatineau.

WP: Soffer (6-0)
LP: Spurrell (2-3)

HR: Renaud (2)

Moosehead Tall Can Player of the Game

There was no tough choice here and Steve Renaud carried the team offensively and defensively. He went 4-for-5 night with 2 double, a home run, and 2 RBI. He also made 5 assists in the field.