Received: 9/13/06 6:04:07 PM
From: "Dan Bernard"
Subject: Niagara Snappers Win 2006 GHFL Title
Niagara Falls, ON
Wednesday September 13, 2006
The Niagara Snappers wrapped up their 2006 season on a positive
note by
winning the GHFL tournament for the second year in a row. The
Snappers did
it the hard way after losing their 2nd game of the tournament,
they had to
play a schedule of 5 games within a 12 hour span on Sunday including
2 games
in the finals against the Niagara Falls Fury who had handed the
Snappers
their first loss.
Game #1 pitted the Snappers against ISC II commissioner Blair
Setford's
Mississauga Arrows. The Arrows with the likes of Drew Hathaway
and Jeff
Wilson on the mound are always a dangerous opponent that can
shut down the
other team at any given time. This time around, the Snappers
came away with
a 5-0 victory. Mike Bateman pitched 4 innings striking out 7
along the way
and Dan Duemo came in for the final 3 innings to pick up the
save as he
struck out 5. Trevor Falk blasted his 25th home run of the season
to pace
the offense.
The Snappers then moved on to face the Niagara Falls Fury. The
Fury and
Snappers have waged several battles throughout the year as a
strong rivalry
has grown. Scott Wagar who was recently named Top Pitcher at
the Senior
Canadians for the Jarvis Merchants took to the mound for the
Fury and held
the Snappers bat in check throughout the game as the Fury prevailed
8-4.
Dan Duemo took the loss with Jason Paylove coming on in relief.
Trevor
Falk, with his 26th, and Scott Young, with his 18th, both hit
home runs for
the Snappers.
Relegated to the loser's side of the bracket, the Snappers took
to the field
at 9am on Sunday morning and faced the St. Catharine's RHCP.
Coach Paylove
knowing that it was going to take 5 games to win the tournament,
and with
only 11 players on the bench, started little used Scott Young.
Young
answered by throwing 6 innings of 1-hit ball as the Snappers
got by the RHCP
2-1. Young struck out 8 along the way. Mike Bateman pitched the
final
frame to notch the save. Todd Dawdy had the game winning RBI
with is 6th
home run of the season, a solo shot in the 3rd inning.
The Hamilton Hawks were up next and the Snappers came out strong
scoring 3
runs in the 3rd inning en-route to a 5-1 win. Mike Bateman threw
5 innings
of shut-out ball and Dan Duemo came on in the 6th to pick up
the save.
Scott Young hit his 19th home run of the season, a 3-run shot
that put the
Snappers up to stay.
The Snappers took on the Waterdown Hammer who had just lost to
the Niagara
Falls Fury in the undefeated game. A win in the game would send
either team
back to the face the Fury in the finals. No scoring until the
4th inning
when the Hammer opened up a 1-0 lead. The Snappers answered back
in the
bottom of the 4th with 2 of their own and that was how the score
would stay
as the Snappers earned their shot in the finals with a 2-1 victory
over a
very tough and very short handed Hammer team. Dan Duemo pitched
6 innings
striking out 8 along the way and Mike Bateman pitched the final
frame for
the save. Perry Bartley and Alex Shotski had a RBI apiece for
the Snappers.
In the finals, surprise Fury starter Richard Vassos held the
Snappers
offense in check most of the game, giving up only 3 runs in 5
innings before
being relieved by Wagar, but the Fury bats were silent as the
Snappers
forced the "if" game by virtue of a 3-1 win. Mike Bateman threw
5 innings
of shut-out ball and Dan Duemo once again came in for the save,
pitching 2
innings and striking out 5. Trevor Falk, Jarrod Burtt, and Todd
Dawdy had
RBI's for the Snappers.
Playing their 5th game in 12 hours, the Snappers beat the Fury
3-2 in an
exciting final to win the GHFL Championship. Dan Duemo went the
distance
for the Snappers striking out 11 along the way, while Scott Wagar
pitched
well in the loss as he had 8 strike-outs of his own. The Snappers
got RBI's
from Jarrod Burtt, Kevin Newhouse (who had the game winning RBI
on a solo
home-run) and Alex Shotski.
Congratulations go out to the Niagara Falls Fury for their play
over the
weekend. The Snappers would also like to wish departing GHFL
president
Blair Setford the best of luck in his future endeavors. Blair
was
instrumental in putting the GHFL together 4 years ago and has
steadily grown
the league in that time. Dan Duemo was named the Gord Newman
award winner
as the GHFL playoff MVP for the 2nd year in a row. Trevor Falk
also
captured some hardware as earlier in the tournament he was named
the 2006
regular season MVP. Not to be outdone, Mike Bateman threw a total
of 17
scoreless innings with 17 strike-outs during the weekend in picking
up 3
wins and 2 saves.
The Snappers finish the season with a record of 35 wins 7 losses
and 4 ties
in ISC II play.
Dan Bernard
Niagar
