The Niagara Metros' long and productive season came to an end yesterday, after losing a tough 7-6 decision to the Glanbrook Grizzlies in the C.O.M.B.L. Playoff Championship tourney.  The Grizzlies then went on and defeated the Milton Red Sox twice, to claim a well-earned league championship (their first in team history).

In the Metros' semi-final loss, Niagara scored five 6th-inning runs to come from behind and take a 6-2 lead over the Grizz.  But the never-say-die Glanbrook club took advantage of a key Metros' error and a couple of hits, to score 3 unearned runs off Metros' starter Dustin Turner, making the score 6-5 going into the 7th.  The Grizz then completed the comeback by scoring two against reliever Chris Magarian...the winning run coming on a bases-loaded walk (just the 9th walk Magarian had issued all season).  Magarian took the loss, allowing the 2 runs on 1 hit while striking out 1.  Turner started and went 5 2/3 innings, giving up 5 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits, while walking 1 and striking out 8.  Tim Sogan went the distance to pick up the win for Glanbrook.

Offensively, the Metros' 9-hit attack was led by Jonathan Paul and Tim Collins, who collected 2 hits each (with Paul picking up an RBI).  Mike Czerwieniec had a 2-run single, while Joe Roach had an RBI single and 2 walks. Geoff Strong added an RBI double, and Daniel Proctor an RBI single.  Jono Marcheterre rounded out the offense with a single.  Sogan helped his own cause with a HR for the Grizz.

The weekend started out well for Niagara, as they picked up a win against the tough Mississauga Twins on Saturday morning.  The score was 10-3.  The top of the batting order was very productive for Niagara in this one, as leadoff hitter Matt Spillman collected a double, 2 walks, 2 runs and an RBI Sac Fly...two hitter Dan Proctor singled 3 times, added a pair of walks, and scored 3 times...and three hitter Joe Roach singled twice and added a 2-run homer (for a 3 RBI game).  Jonathan Paul added a 2-run HR while Chris Pickles chipped in with a 2-run single.  Garrett Fisher added a double, and Andrew Sorochan an RBI single in the Metros' 11-hit attack.

Meanwhile, Metros' starter Mike Czerwieniec was keeping the Twins' powerful offense at bay, limiting the Mississauga club to 3 runs and 5 hits, in his complete-game victory.  Czerwieniec walked 3, and struck out 0 for his 2nd win of the season.

The Saturday morning win put them into a matchup with the Milton Red Sox on Saturday afternoon...but this game was not one of the Metros' better ones.  With a brutal sun field in right, there were numerous catchable fly balls that made their way to the ground (for both teams), making the game a comedy of errors.  However, the Red Sox were better able to take advantage of the other team's mistakes, and emerged with a 6-1 win.

Once again, the hard-luck loser was Jason Ermers for Niagara.  He went 3 2/3 innings before leaving with a sore arm, having pitched effectively, but becoming a victim of the shoddy play behind him.  Ermers allowed 4 runs (0 earned), on 3 hits and 4 walks.  He struck out 2.  Chris Magarian followed Ermers to the mound, and tossed 1 1/3 innings, allowing a run on 3 hits, while walking 1 and striking out 1.  Brandon Beattie finished up and pitched very well, going the final 2 innings, and shutting out the Red Sox on 1 hit and 1 walk.  He struck out 2.  Liam Tennant picked up the Milton win.  

Niagara managed just 5 hits, with Jonathan Paul and Chris Pickles leading the way with doubles.  Joe Roach, Dustin Turner, and Tim Collins added singles.  Nick Mazzarotto and Sean Mathe collected RBI doubles for the Sox.  

As mentioned, the Glanbrook Grizzlies went on to defeat the Red Sox twice in the finals to win the C.O.M.B.L. Playoff Championship.  The Metros want to congratulate Glanbook on a fantastic season, in which they also captured the regular season pennant.  As for the Metros, they finish the year 22-17 over the course of the year (including tournaments and playoffs).  And with the collection of young talent that the team has secured this year, the team feels that the 2010 season has provided a strong foundation on which to build for the future.  Congratulations, guys.          

The teams and matchups are now set for this weekend's Central Ontario Major Baseball League Championship Tourney, as the Mississauga Twins and Milton Red Sox won their games last evening to earn their way to the final 4.  The Red Sox knocked off the Brampton Battlecats 6-1, while the Twins outlasted the Etobicoke Rangers 6-4 at Erindale Cardinal Field.  The Niagara Metros and pennant-winning Glanbrook Grizzlies had already advanced after their wins on Monday night.

So, the weekend looks like this:  The 4 remaining teams will play a double-knockout event, beginning on Saturday morning and ending Sunday afternoon.  All of the games will be played at Brian Best Park in Milton beginning at 9:30 AM.  In that 9:30 game, the 2nd Seed Mississauga Twins will faceoff against 3rd Seed Niagara Metros...and then at noon, the #1 Seed Glanbrook Grizzlies will take on #4 Milton Red Sox.  At 2:30 the two winners will face each other, and then at 5:00 the two losing teams will play. 

At the end of Saturday, there will be one team eliminated, one team undefeated and into the finals, and two teams at 1-1.  Those two teams will meet at 10:00 AM on Sunday, and the winner will play the undefeated team, with the unenviable task of having to beat them twice.  The C.O.M.B.L. Champions (and winners of the C.O.M.B.L. Prize Purse) will be declared Sunday afternoon.

For the record, the Metros have not advanced to the "Final 4" since 2006, and have not won a Playoff title since 2005...so, for the few players still remaining on the club from those days, this is a big weekend.  The weather is supposed to be great, and the remaining 4 teams have all had great seasons.  It should be a fantastic weekend of baseball.  Best of luck to the Twins, Red Sox and Grizz...and to the Metros, "give 'em hell!"
   

The Niagara Metros got off on the right foot in the C.O.M.B.L. Playoffs on Saturday, before rain washed out the entire second day of play on Sunday.  The Metros defeated the Brampton Battlecats 7-1 in game 1, setting up a 2nd round matchup with the Etobicoke Rangers on Sunday morning.  However, Mother Nature intervened, and the Metros will now play the Rangers on Monday.

In the game that did get played, Niagara took full advantage of what the 'Cats gave them, scoring 7 runs on just 5 hits.  But 9 free passes, and 3 Brampton errors aided the Metros' cause, in the 7 inning affair.  Meanwhile, Metros pitchers Jason Ermers and Geoff Strong were holding the Brampton bats in check, allowing just 4 hits while striking out 7.  Ermers picked up the win, allowing an unearned 1st-inning run, while walking 1 and striking out 3.  Strong earned the 9-out save, without allowing a baserunner.  He struck out 4.

Offensively, rookie Matt Spillman led the way as he doubled, singled, walked twice, scored 2 runs and drove in another.  Joe Roach chipped in with an RBI single, while Dave Davidson and Andrew Sorochan added the other hits.  Other RBI's were recorded by Dan Proctor, Dustin Wiley and Sorochan.  Allen Hughes had an RBI single for the Battlecats.

As mentioned, game 2 of the Metros' Playoff run is set for Monday evening.  It will be played at Erindale Cardinal Field (9th Line Park) in Mississauga at 7:30.  The Etobicoke Rangers will provide the opposition.  Should the Metros win that game, they would advance to the Championship Double-Knockout portion of the tourney,on August 28th and 29th.  Good luck, Metros!

The Niagara Metros have a practice tonight (Thursday 6:00 at Community) in preparation for their first round playoff matchup, which has been set and confirmed for Saturday.  There were a few games played in the league the last couple of nights, and the outcomes of those games has solidified the playoff pairings for the league.  Last night, Glanbrook travelled to Oakville and defeated the A's 6-1, to lock up 1st place in the league with a 17-11 record. Oakville and Mississauga finished at 16-11-1, but the A's had the tiebreaker, so Oakville finished 2nd, and the Twins were 3rd.  The rest of the standings in the C.O.M.B.L. are as follows: Niagara - 4th, Etobicoke - 5th, Erindale - 6th, Milton - 7th, Brampton - 8th, and Burlington - 9th.  Congratulations to the Glanbrook Grizzlies on winning their first Anson Buck Trophy!

As mentioned, the Metros matchup is set.  They will play the winner of the Milton - Brampton game (being played Friday night), at 12:30 at Burlington's Nelson Park.  Should they win that game, the Metros would then come back to Burlington on Sunday, for game 2 at 10:00 AM.  A first-game loss would also mean a Sunday game, but it would be in Milton (at Brian Best Park), beginning at 11:00.

Four of the 9 C.O.M.B.L. teams will advance from the first weekend of play, and set up a 4-team double knockout to determine the Playoff Champions, next weekend.  The Champions and Runners-up of the tournament share a $1000 prize, in addition to their championship accolades.


CONGRATULATIONS, DUSTIN!!!

The Central Ontario Major Baseball League will be well-represented at this year's Canadian Senior Baseball Championships in Nova Scotia.  The Niagara Metros found out last week, that their fine catcher, Dustin Wiley has been added to the roster of the Windsor Stars, for this year's National tourney.  The Stars will represent the province as Ontario 1, and the distinction allows them to pick up players from around the province to augment their already strong lineup. 

Wiley, who played for the Stars from 2004 til 2009, played this season with the Metros, after his move to the Niagara area.  He compiled a .295 batting average this season, and added 7 doubles, 1 HR, 20 BB's and 17 RBI's to the Metros' offense.  Wiley is the 4th Niagara player to be added to the roster of an Ontario representative at the National event.  In 2008, pitchers Dustin Turner and Jason Ermers were added to the roster of the Oshawa Royals...and last season Brian Essery was picked up by the Stars, and helped them to the Bronze medal, by winning 2 games during the tourney.

The Metros are proud to have played a part in such prestigious events, and we're sure that Dustin Wiley, will once again show the country that there is some great talent here in the Central Ontario Major Baseball League.  Congratulations, Dustin.  We're proud of you!


STATS UPDATE POSTED

Finally today, we want to let you know that the Metros statistics have been updated to the end of the regular season.  The stats that you see are inclusive of all games that the team has played in 2010...regular season and tournaments.  To view the statistics, click on "Standings / Stats" to the left of the page, and scroll to the bottom of the page to find the link for the stats you want to view.  We'll update everything one more time at the completion of the Playoffs. 

Talk to you next week! 

The Niagara Metros finished their 2010 regular season on a high note last night at Community Park, as they dumped the Burlington Brants by a score of 14-3.  The Metros had their hitting shoes on as they piled up 15 hits, including 6 doubles, in the 7-inning mercy.  Burlington actually took a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st (thanks to a couple of Metros errors), but Niagara came back to take a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the inning.  The home team then added 4 runs in the 2nd, 1 in the 4th, and 6 more in the 5th to put the game away.

The beneficiery of all the offense was starter Dustin Turner, who picked up his 3rd win of the year (against 2 defeats).  Turner went 6 innings and allowed 7 hits and 3 runs (1 earned).  He walked 2 and struck out 10.  T.J. Tavender pitched an inning of relief, allowing a hit and 2 walks, but no runs.  C.J. Cabrero went 4+ innings for the Brants, and absorbed the loss.

Dave Davidson, once again led the Metros' offence, as he collected 3 singles and a double, along with 3 RBI's.  It was the 3rd 4-hit game of the season for the ex-Major League pitcher.  Mike Czerwieniec, Evan Baglieri, and Dustin Wiley all doubled and singled, and added 2 RBI's, while Chris Pickles also hit a double and a single.  Andrew Sorochan added a 2-run double, Jono Marcheterre a 2-run single, and Tim Collins an RBI single.  Joe Kirby had 3 hits for Burlington.

The win improves Niagara's record to 16-12 on the season and appears to have them locked into 2nd place in the Johnson Division, and 4th place in the overall standings.  The Brants drop to 7-21 to end their season in the Johnson Division cellar.  The C.O.M.B.L. playoffs begin this coming weekend, and as mentioned, with the Metros seemingly locked into 4th place, they will play their first game Saturday at 12:30 in Burlington.  They would then follow that up with one or two games on Sunday.  Please, check back to metrosbaseball.ca later in the week, when the C.O.M.B.L. schedule is completed, and all of the playoff matchups are set.   

The Niagara Metros were entering the 5th inning with a 4-1 lead over the Milton Red Sox, when the roof caved in last night at Community Park.  The Red Sox put up 9 runs in the 5th (the biggest outburst against the Niagara team in 3 years), en route to an 11-8 win.  Milton combined 6 hits, 2 walks, 2 hit batters, and a costly Metros error in the inning, sending 15 men to the plate, to take a 10-4 lead.  Still the Metros battled back, and made a game of it in the 8th inning, as they scored 4 runs of their own, leaving the bases loaded.

Devin Karlsen picked up the win, tossing 7 1/3 innings for Milton.  The losing pitcher was starter Jason Ermers, who went 4 strong before sustaining a blister on his pitching hand in the 5th.  Overall, he allowed 6 runs (5 earned) on 6 hits and 3 walks.  He struck out 4.  T.J. Tavender tossed 3 innings of relief, and gave up 4 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits while walking 2, hitting 2 batters, and striking out 1.  Brandon Beattie allowed an unearned run on 2 hits, in his inning of work.  He struck out 1.  Dave Davidson closed the game with a solid inning of work, allowing a walk and striking out 1.  The Metros made 3 errors in the game.

Kurt Mitchell led the Red Sox at the plate with 3 singles and an RBI.  For Niagara, Matt Spillman tripled, singled and added an RBI, reaching base all 5 times he came to the plate.  Dave Davidson and Jono Marcheterre both doubled and singled, while Evan Baglieri drove in 3 runs with a single and a Sac Fly.  Dan Proctor singled twice and added 3 walks, while Joe Roach chipped in with an RBI single.  Other RBI's were collected by Tim Collins and Chris Pickles.

The Metros' loss drops them to 15-12 on the season and leaves them in 2nd place in the Johnson Division, with just one game left to play.  Milton improves to 10-13-2 and are in 3rd place in the Johnson.  As mentioned, the Metros have one game left on the schedule...that's a home game on Monday evening at Community Park.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:30. 

The C.O.M.B.L. Playoff tournament begins next weekend.  For Niagara, the first game will be Saturday (August 21) in Burlington.  We'll post more details next week, when the regular season schedule comes to a close.   

The Niagara Metros went into Erindale Cardinal Field last night, and did something that has been very hard to do, over the last 20 years or so.  They completed a season sweep of the powerful Erindale club, on the heels of a 10-4 victory.  Niagara outhit the home team 11-10, but the Cards were their own worst enemies last night, as they committed two costly errors in the game...each one leading to 3-run outburts by Niagara.

Mike Czerwieniec made the start on the mound, and picked up his first win as a Metros pitcher.  The hard-luck starter (who has pitched well, but has been plagued by injuries, rain, and inconsistent play behind him) went 7 solid innings, allowing 4 runs, only 3 of which were earned.  He gave up 8 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 8.  Chris Magarian tossed the final two innings, and gave up 2 hits in shutting down the Cardinals.  Chris Mullen took the loss for Erindale.

Offensively, Niagara got a big game from rookie Daniel Proctor, who collected 4 hits and 2 RBI's.  Dave Davidson tied for the team lead in HR's with his 4th...a 3-run shot in the 1st inning that proved to be the game-winning hit.  Another rookie, Chris Pickles had a pair of singles and 2 RBI's, while Andrew Sorochan also singled twice and added an RBI.  Tim Collins, and Matt Spillman picked up a single and an RBI each.  Chris Dubnyk doubled and singled to lead the Cardinals.

The win improves Niagara's record to 15-11, and moves them to within 2 games of the 1st-place Glanbrook Grizzlies in the Johnson Division.  Erindale drops to 10-14-1 and remains in 4th place in the Andrews Division.  With 2 games left in the regular season, the Metros return home for the remainder of the year.  This Thursday the Milton Red Sox come to town, before the season wraps up on Monday, as Niagara hosts the Burlington Brants.  Both games are at Community Park beginning at 7:30.


MAYBE YOU MISSED IT

Hey, did you happen to notice a couple of website updates we posted last week?  First of all, we added 7 new photos to our "Photo Album" from the Elimination Tourney in London a couple of weeks ago.  Included are a couple of great "action shots".  Just scroll to the bottom of the page. 

We also updated our bi-weekly "Baseball Film Feature".  This week we are featuring one of our favourite scenes from one of our favourite baseball flicks..."For Love of the Game".  The scene has catcher Gus Sinski visiting the mound to talk to pitcher Billy Chapel (who is on his way to delivering a perfect game for the Tigers).  And Sinski utters those immortal inspirational words that sends chills down your spine..."Billy, we don't stink right now!"  Great stuff.

The Mississauga Twins and Niagara Metros played their second game in 3 days at Community Park, and by the time it was over both teams had had enough.  In the longest game of the season, the Twins emerged with an 11-10 decision over the home team.  Between them the two teams combined for 21 runs, 24 hits, and (thanks to an under-sized strike zone) a ridiculous 25 walks.  As mentioned, both teams were short-staffed for this one (each team had 10 players), as it was a late scheduled make up of an earlier postponement.

After trailing 8-2 in the 7th, the Metros (who had stranded 15 runners through the first 6 innings) finally got things going, as they scored 6 runs to tie the game.  After Mississauga retook the lead in the top of the 8th, Niagara scored 2 in the bottom half to take the lead for the first time.  But the Twins got those 2 back in the top of the 9th and held off the home team in the bottom of the 9th to cling to the victory.

Due to the fact that the Metros had only two relievers at the game, they called on a couple of position players to help out on the mound...Joe Roach and Garrett Fisher.  And it was Fisher who took the loss, giving up the 2 9th-inning runs on 1 hit, 2 walks and a costly error.  Roach allowed a run on 2 walks and 2 hits in his inning of work.  Lefty Brandon Beattie made is first C.O.M.B.L. start and went 4 innings.  He gave up 6 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits, walking 3 and striking out 1.  Chris Magarian pitched 3 innings of relief and allowed 2 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks.  He struck out 6.  Eric Ventura, the 4th Twins pitcher, got the win.

Andrew Salmon had a couple of RBI-doubles to lead the way offensively for Mississauga.  Joe Roach collected 3 hits and 2 walks to lead the Metros, while rookie Matt Spillman had a good day with 2 hits, 4 walks, 2 stolen bases, and 3 runs.  Evan Baglieri had a pair of doubles and 3 RBI's, and Dave Davidson collected a pair of singles and 2 RBI's.  Jono Marcheterre had 2 hits and an RBI, while Andrew Sorochan had a single and an RBI.  Garrett Fisher singled and Dustin Wiley drove in 2 runs with Sac Flys.

The Twins' record improves to 13-10-1 to solidify their hold on 2nd place in the Andrews Division, while the loss gives Niagara a season record of 14-11, and leaves them in 2nd place in the Johnson Division.  Next up for Niagara is a road game Tuesday night in Erindale, before they return home for their regular Thursday night home game against the Milton Red Sox.  Game time at Community Park is 7:30.        
 

The Niagara Metros continued their excellent play last night at Community Park, as they humbled the Mississauga Twins 11-1, in a mercy-shortened 7-inning game.  The Metros outhit the Twins 14-4, and made just 1 error (to Mississauga's 3) during the contest.  Niagara scored 6 runs in the 1st inning, and added on in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th innings to win going away.

Geoff Strong was masterful on the mound for Niagara in picking up the win, his 5th of the season (against 1 loss).  Strong allowed 1 unearned run and 3 hits in his 6-inning stint.  He walked 3 and struck out 7.  Paul Somerville, in his last outing before returning to U.S. College ball, pitched the final inning and allowed a hit and 2 walks, but didn't allow a run.  Starter Chris Piccini took the loss for the Twins.

Metros' DH Dave Davidson had a big night at the plate to lead the offense, going 4-5 with a double and 3 RBI's.  Matt Spillman singled twice and added a pair of RBI's, while Evan Baglieri collected 2 hits and an RBI, as well.  Mike Czerwieniec hit an RBI-double, while Garrett Fisher added a 2-run single, and Dustin Wiley and Dan Proctor added RBI-singles.  Joe Roach and Chris Pickles rounded out the offense with singles.  Andrew Salmon collected 3 of the 4 Twins hits on the night.

With the win Niagara improves their season record to 14-10 leaving them 2 1/2 games behind the 1st place Glanbrook Grizzlies in the Johnson Division of the C.O.M.B.L.  Mississauga drops to 12-10-1, and remains in 2nd place in the Andrews Division.  The two teams play a return engagement at Community Park this Saturday afternoon, as they play a make-up game from an earlier postponement.  First pitch on Saturday is 2:30. 

At the 2009 Elimination Tourney, the Niagara Metros played very poorly and were eliminated in 2 games.  This year, they were also eliminated in 2 games...but they played anything but poorly.  In fact, some team observers have stated that the team played 2 of their best games of the season.  In the tough world of the Senior "A" Ontario Championships however, sometimes playing well just isn't enough.

In a game that many people were still talking about 2 days later, the Metros lost an opening-game heartbreaker to the defending champion Windsor Stars 3-2, in walk-off fashion.  Then they turned around and played another very strong club, the Strathroy Royals, to a scoreless tie through 7 innings.  The Royals finally emerged victorious in the 8th, 1-0, after scoring a run on the Metros' only error of the weekend.

As mentioned, the Friday night game 1 affair was in incredible contest, as Metros' ace Dustin Turner matched up with Windsor's ace, Steve Carter.  The game remained scoreless through 5 innings, before Niagara broke through with a pair of runs in the top of the 6th.  In the bottom of the 6th, Turner retired the first batter and then gave up a hit, but opened up a nasty blister on his pitching hand, forcing him from the game.  Dave Davidson came in and allowed a hit, to score the 1st Windsor run.  After the Metros were retired in order in the 7th, they needed just 3 outs to knock off the '09 champs.  But the Stars managed to get a runner on base, and after Davidson struck out the next 2 hitters, Tom Grubb hit a long HR to drive in 2 runs, and send the Metros to a heart-breaking defeat, by a score of 3-2.

Turner went 5 1/3 innings, allowing a run on 5 hits, walking 2, and striking out 6.  Davidson took the loss, going 1 1/3 innings, and giving up 2 runs and 2 hits.  He struck out 3.  Carter went the distance to pick up the win for the Stars.  Niagara managed just 5 hits in this one, but 3 of them came consecutively, with 2 out and nobody on base in the 6th.  Joe Roach doubled and Evan Baglieri (with his 2nd hit of the night) doubled him home, for the first run.  Then former Star's player, Dustin Wiley drove in Baglieri with a single up the middle.  Matt Spillman added the other Metros' hit.

In game 2, versus Strathroy, the game was pitcher's dual between Jeff Martin of the Royals, and Jason Ermers of the Metros.  As mentioned, the two teams battled through the 7 innings and into the 8th without a run being scored.  But in the 8th, Strathroy's Brian Mercier doubled to lead off the inning, before the next batter laid down a sacrifice bunt.  But in his haste to get the runner at 1st, Ermers made a poor throw that got by 1st Baseman Joe Roach, and the winning run came home.

The error did not detract from Ermers' amazing performance on the mound, however.  He was absolutely masterful in keeping the powerful Royals team off base.  Overall, he went the distance, allowing the 1 unearned run, and just 2 hits.  He walked none and struck out 8, in arguably the Metros' best-pitched game of the season.  Martin went the distance to complete the shutout for Strathroy, allowing 6 hits.

The Metros had numerous chances to break through in this one, getting runners into scoring position in the 5th, 6th, and 7th innings, but were just unable to convert.  Geoff Strong hit a double to lead the way, while the rest of the hits (all singles) were shared by, Joe Roach, Dustin Wiley, Dave Davidson, and Tim Collins.

The Stars went on to win the tournament, running the table at 8-0 over the weekend, while Strathroy made it to the semi-finals before bowing out to the finalists, the Ilderton Red Army.  Windsor will, once again, represent Ontario at the Canadian Senior Championships in Nova Scotia, later this month.  As for the Metros, they have 5 regular season games left to play, before their league playoffs begin on the August 21st weekend.  First up will be a couple of games against the Mississauga Twins at Community Park, this week.  On Thursday the Twins come to town for the Metros regularly-scheduled home game, at 7:30.  And then they return on Saturday afternoon for the make up of an earlier postponed game.  Once again the game is at Community, with the first pitch scheduled for 2:30.