It took only one game in Sault Ste. Marie for the Sudbury Bantams to get their bats going, and by the time their exhibition set finale rolled around, they were showing no mercy.
Manager Jack Miller and company completed a three-game sweep of the Sault Black Sox Bantams last weekend in the Soo, putting together a nice combination of solid pitching and timely hitting, especially over the final two outings.
Sudbury opened with a 7-6 victory as Josh Clark drew the starting pitching assignment, giving way to Nick Hillman midway through the game. Ryan Faubert, Phil Miller and Clark punched out two hits apiece, with Miller adding three stolen bases to his personal statistical linescore.
Ronnie Sayers and Beau Nolan both went deep for the Sault, but it wasn't enough. Game two remained close until the final inning, with Sudbury scoring seven times in the top of the seventh, recording a 10-0 win.
Faubert started the game on the mound for the locals but rolled his ankle on a play at the plate in the first inning. Thankfully, Miller was more than up to the task of coming on in relief, tossing six shutout innings with the steady guidance of battery-mate Josh Favaro.
Sudbury opened the contest on the right foot as Hillman and Brody McCaffrey both reached with walks, coming around on a two-run double by Clark. Faubert then plated the third run of the first inning with a double of his own.
The 3-0 lead held up until the seventh when Miller kicked things off with a single, while Hillman (double), Ethan Jodouin (triple), Clark (triple), Nic Legault (double) and Favaro (triple) all followed with extra-base hits.
The Sudbury bats did not let up at all in game three as the boys posted a 14-3 win in an encounter called on the mercy rule after five innings of play. Sudbury scored twice in the first, but really revved up the damage-meter in the third inning.
A double steal by Miller and Clark allowed both runners to score on a triple by Jodouin. That touched off a series of eight straight hits as Favaro, McCaffrey, Todd Timony and Noah Skuce all doubled in rapid succession, followed by a single from Hillman.
Miller (triple), Clark (double) and Jodouin (double) closed out the offensive festivities as the locals surrendered a pair of runs in the second inning and another in the fifth.
The Sudbury crew is back on the road for the August long weekend, taking part in a SOBA (Select Ontario Baseball Association) tournament in Orillia. Provincials are slated for Aug. 31 through to Sept. 3 in Cambridge, with Thorold, Vaughan and Stouffville also hosting various age groupings.
Posted by Laurel Myers
