BY ERIC MCCARTHY
The Journal-Pioneer
TIGNISH -- It was a rough opening day for the Mount Pearl Blazers Thursday
in Tignish. They gave up eight runs in the first inning of their morning
game against the Nova Scotia Mets and ended up losing 9-1. In their
afternoon game, the Blazers looked on as Manitoba Black Sox slowly moved the
afternoon game out of reach. The Black Sox scored three times in the first,
twice in the second, three more in the third and once in the fifth for a 9-0
win.
The Blazers' bats just weren't blazing in Tignish. Nova Scotia pitchers
Jason Smith and Justin MacGillavary, in relief, allowed just two
Newfoundland hits, both by Nick Hayden, who ended up scoring from third on a
wild pitch for the Blazers only run of the day.
Scott Creelman (3-5, two runs scored, RBI, double), Don McCann (2-3, walk,
run scored) and MacGillivary (2-4, two RBI, run scored), were the Halifax
Mets' leading hitters.
The eight-run first inning might have set the Blazers "back on their heels."
Mets coach, Ron MacNeill commented.
When asked if his team let up on their bats a little bit after building up
the big lead, MacNeill replied, "I think they did. They've got to realize
they can't do that, especially at this level."
The quiet bats had the Blazers head coach, Joe Wadden scratching his head.
"Sixteen strike-outs: You're not going to win many games like that," he
commented.
The Manitoba Black Sox utilized four pitchers in their win over the Blazers.
It wasn't that any of them was getting into trouble on the pitching mound,
though. "We tried to get everybody in the game," said coach Rob LeBleu. The
four pitchers gave up just one hit through seven innings.
The Blazers, LeBleu acknowledged, didn't throw a lot of strikes and, as a
result, Manitoba didn't score many earned runs. "Our guys still had to be
patient, and they ended up swinging at some bad pitches," he said.
LeBleu said Manitoba's goal is to finish second in their pool. The other
teams are Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, the Blazers and Ontario.
Why second? "Obviously, Ontario is strong. They have a big area to pick
from," he responded.
