Despite damp and rainy weather all day everyone got their games in on the opening day of the Canadian Senior Baseball Championship. There was a heavy mist in the air as the Opening Ceremonies were held Thursday evening at Beasley field in Dartmouth, but it began to subside by the time the first pitch was thrown in the host’s opening game against the Windsor Stars.
Dartmouth 4 Windsor 2
Dartmouth used a little small ball in the first inning to take the early lead. Leadoff hitter, Chris Head singled to right and advanced all the way to third after stealing second and having the catcher’s throw wind up in centerfield. Head came into score on a sac fly to to center off the bat of Joel Irvine.
Windsor turned the tables on the Moosehead Dry scoring Justin Pennell in the second. Pennell led off the inning with a single to right and moved to second on a botched pick-off attempt. He later cam into score on a wild pitch from Dartmouth starter Jason Bailey.
Dartmouth firstbaseman Greg West put the home team back on top with a leadoff home run in the bottom half on the second. The Stars tied the game back up in the fourth leading to a competitive finish to the game.
Windsor threatened to take the lead in the fifth, but ended up stranding runners at first and third. The Stars stranded seven runners total in each of the first five innings. The lack of production proved to be costly.
Dartmouth took advantage after a throwing error by SS Brian Dufour moved Beau Chiasson into scoring position in the bottom half of the inning. Catcher Matt Denney laid down a sac bunt to move the runner to third and he later scored on an infield chopper.
The sixth saw some exciting plays as Dartmouth looked to add some insurance runs. Designated hitter, and Home Run King, Darren Doucette scored on a very close play at the plate where it appeared Windsor catcher Rob Mancini had the plate covered and the throw was on line, but the umpire called him safe. The very next play saw another play at the plate where the Dartmouth runner was called out despite the catcher seeming to have dropped the ball. The ump ruled the drop was on the transfer.
Bailey came back out to finish off the complete game (7 innings) and seal the 4-2 win for Dartmouth.
Earlier in the day Halifax beat Fredericton 10-6 in the first match of the tournament.
All the scores from Day 1:
Halifax – 10 Fredericton – 6
Brandon – 1 St. John’s – 2
Ilderton – 2 Red Deer – 6
Brandon – 5 Fort Sask – 4
Windsor – 2 Dartmouth – 4
