A "wild and crazy game" at Glenora's Waldon Park on Tuesday evening gave Wheatsheaf the lead over Gord Closson Forest Products in the Nanaimo Senior Men's Fastball League championship series.
Wheatsheaf got an astonishing 17 hits in the contest as they surged to an 11-6 victory over GCFP. In most games, six runs is enough to win, but Wheatsheaf's onslaught on Tuesday was impossible for GCFP to catch. The score was tied 3-3 after the first and 4-4 after the second, but then Wheatsheaf pulled away.
"I thought the game was decided in the [top of the] first inning," GCFP manager Joe DiLalla said. "Playing catch-up is not a good way to play."
It didn't help GCFP's cause that Wheatsheaf hit four home runs while the home team didn't have any balls leave the yard.
"The ball was going out for them, but not for us," DiLalla said. "Sometimes bats get hot for a team, and that's what happened for them."
GCFP was held to only five hits by Wheatsheaf hurler Chris McCormick.
"Give credit to their pitcher," DiLalla said. "He shut our bats down."
McCormick did allow eight walks, including two each to Brad Robinson, Dave Devana and Dan Whiteford.
"Usually that will hurt a pitcher, but he got away with it," DiLalla said. "He pitched a good game; he pitched around our strong hitters."
Dennis Young had the best night at the plate, picking up a double on his lone hit. Whiteford, Trevor Gicas, Dom Mansueti and Craig Snyder each had singles. Brad Robinson recorded two RBIs despite not recording a hit.
"It just goes to show you don't need to get a hit every time," DiLalla said.
The playoff series resumed Thursday night at Wheatsheaf Park in Cedar, and the third game, if necessary, will also be played at Wheatsheaf next Tuesday. DiLalla hopes the team is still in action next week.
"We knew it was going to be tough," he said. "Hopefully we can answer back. I'd love to see a third game."