Rainy beats Stratton, loses to Fort in playoffs

Ken Johnston

Fort France’s Sight and Sound spoiled a perfect season for the Rainy River Legion Royals Thursday night when they handed them their first loss of the 2005 fast ball season.
S&S jumped to an early lead when the first three batters scored. Ed Vold hit a lead off single and then advanced to second when Grant Swire followed suit with a perfect bunt and a single. Andrew Watts then hit a double and scored Vold. Duane Carlson drove a fly ball deep into center field to earn a sacrifice RBI. Harvey Flammand then sacrificed to bring in Watts.
In the bottom of the inning the Royals looked like they were going to strike back just as hard. Wes Blight hit a single after Matt Ashworth struck out and Don Gall then hit a double to score Blight. However, that would be it, as S&S pitcher Harvey Flammand struck out the next two batters stranding Gall. After the first it was 3-1 for S&S.
Both teams then tightened up their defense and pitched phenomenally for the next three innings.
No one scored until the top of the fifth when Ed Vold was brought home on a sacrifice fly by Watts.
Rainy also cranked up their offense in the fifth. After Dan Usiski, Jr., struck out, the top of the lineup came up with some hits. Matt Ashworth hit a single. Blight then flew out. But Gall hit a double and scored Ashworth. Then Flammand walked both Jim Chorney and Murray Armstrong to load the bases. Nick Ashworth had his work cut out for him, but hit a fly to right field to end the inning and hold RR to one run. It was 4-2 after five.
In the sixth S&S added two more runs to their lead when Marcel Pagee belted a double to score Derek McKinnon and Dale Jerry.
In the bottom of the inning Matt Bartlett was hit by a pitch and later would score RR’s last run of the game.
In the top of the seventh S&S added two insurance runs with Vold and Swire scoring again.
Last bats saw Jim Chorney fly out and then Murray Armstrong and Nick Ashworth get put out in a double play. Final score 8-3 for S&S.
S&S automatically earns a berth into the finals. Since it is double knockout RR will play Stratton in Rainy. The loser of that game will be out. RR beat Stratton last Tuesday 4-3.