Cardinals Defeat Washington Rush and Bulldogs Blue, Bringing 2 Wins Home For Canada on Day 1 of the Firecracker Classic

The West Coast Cardinals celebrated Canada’s 150th birthday with a pair of wins south of the border - with a twist. The Firecracker Classic is a 14-team tournament that uses much different rules than the Cards are accustomed to. They pitch from 60 feet and play on 90-foot base-paths, swing aluminum bats and limit pitchers to 8 IP for the weekend instead of counting the number of pitches thrown. The change of pace is welcome and beneficial for those second year players that will be transitioning to those dimensions next season. All things considered, neither game played out in typical Cardinal fashion, but they’re still in decent position to make a run for the championship on Monday.

 

WashingtonRush 5 CARDINALS 8

Crozier got the start on the artificial bump for the Cards and made quick work of the first two batters in the top of the 1st. However, the defence didn’t do much to help him out from there. A hard groundball ate up the Cardinal shortstop, followed by a liner to left that glanced off the fielder’s glove and behind him for an RBI single. A high throw from shortstop to first and a misplayed chopper down the third baseline later, the Rush would score their second run of the opening frame on a bases-loaded, four-pitch walk. The next batter would ground out to end the threat, but the Cards had already dug themselves a 2-0 hole after just half an inning. The bats did what they could to pick up the defence’s slack in the bottom half against a tough, hard-throwing lefty from the Rush. Sugi worked a walk, swiped second and advanced to third on a base hit by Hendriks. Baybay and Yuen each proceeded to wear one, Yuen picking up an RBI for doing so. Powell drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game, then Crozier was fortunate to pick up the go-ahead RBI on a double-play ball that was mishandled by the first basemen. A solid response to a poor inning in the field, the Cards came back to lead 3-2 after one complete.

The Cards tacked on another run in the 2nd with the help of a leadoff walk from Symons, who would later come around to score on a two-out RBI single by Sugi. However, they gave it right back in the top of the 3rd, as a one-out double by the Washington clean-up hitter, who was 3-3 on the day, was driven in by a two-out single. In the bottom half, a pair of two out walks gave Crozier another opportunity to pad his lead. He sent a soft liner up the middle, and Kang was aggressively sent home but could not beat the throw from the second baseman who amazingly barehanded the ball up the middle nailed Kang at the plate to wrap up the inning. Powell took over pitching duties for Crozier to begin the 4th so he could be preserved for Sunday and was on top of his game. He attacked the Rush hitters with his fastball, knuckleball combo, sitting down the side in order. The Cards would seize control of this one in the 4th, loading the bases with one out on a couple of walks and a base hit off the bat of Fukuoka. Sugi walked for the second time, this time driving in a run to restore the Cards’ two-run lead. After a force-out at the plate, Baybay stepped up and delivered the crushing blow, sending the seventh pitch of his at-bat into the left-centre field gap, clearing the bases as the runners were off on the pitch, increasing their lead to five runs, 8-3 after four complete.

Powell got the first two outs of the 5th before allowing back-to-back hits, putting runners on second and third. Thankfully, he got the next batter to pop up and escape the inning, capping off his fine two innings of work on the day. The Cards turned to Kang to earn the final three outs in the top of the 6th, as the two-hour time limit was creeping up on them and it was looking like this would be the last inning time would allow. The leadoff batter hit a single then stole second before a groundball to the right of Hendriks led him towards third base as the base-runner took the gamble going from second to third. The throw and tag by Baybay was clearly in time, but the base umpire inconceivably ruled the runner safe, leaving runners at first and third with nobody out. The runner from first took off for second, the throw down from the Cards’ catcher bounced into centre field and the Rush scored their first run of the 6th, cutting their deficit to 8-4. Now with two out and runners on 1st and 3rd, Washington’s #2 hitter smacked an RBI single, bringing the tying run to the plate. Kang’s spaghetti pick-off move drew the runner at second into no-man’s land, but his throw to 3rd got past Baybay at third base and both runners advanced into scoring position. On a 3-2 count with the Rush clean-up hitter on deck, Kang blew a fastball by the batter for a massive strikeout, as the Cards hung on to win their opening game of the tournament, 8-5 the final. The box score wasn’t the most flattering to the Cards seeing as they were outhit 7-6 and piled up seven errors, yet they still managed to pull it out - go figure. -JO

CARDINALS 11 BulldogsBlue 5

The Cardinals faced off against Bulldogs Blue, one of three Kent Bulldogs teams in this tournament for game 2 of the Saturday afternoon/night double header. The last game of the night had Bulldogs winning the coin flip and opting to be home team. With West Coast's first chance to strike, they did exactly that as a two-out walk to Hendriks came around to score on a Baybay double into the right-centre gap, Yuen followed that up with a hard single to right scoring Baybay giving the Cards a 2-0 lead early. West Coast turned to Sugi on the mound to start this one and the crafty veteran was quickly in trouble as he walked 2-batter and speed demon, Goon with 1 out. Bulldog's cleanup hitter would hit a hanging changeup for a 2 out single scoring Goon with ease to bring his team within 1 after 1. 

After a strikeout to lead off the 2nd, the Cards' bottom of the order would go to work loading the bases bringing up 10-batter Miles. The bases loaded situation caused the Bulldogs' manager to bring in a new pitcher to face Miles, the decision didn't work out in his favour as the first pitch delivered by the Bulldogs' reliever hit Miles in the lower body forcing a run across the plate. The Cards' top of the order would put the hurt on as Turnbull would deliver an RBI single and Sugi got a hold of 1-1 pitch and hit a deep 2 RBI double. 5-1 Cards after 2.

Sugi trotted back out to the mound in the 3rd inning in what likely would be his last inning of work. In order for pitchers to pitch the next day they must have not thrown more than 9 outs the previous day, so Sugi toed the rubber set to face the Bulldogs' top of the order to begin the bottom of the third. A leadoff walk wasn't the way Sugi anticipated on starting the bottom half and speed demon Goon wasted no time showing his power side, as the 2-batter put barrel to ball, getting all of a Sugi fastball and driving it over the tall fence in left field for an atleast 310 ft. 2 run home run. 5-3 Cards after 3.

West Coast would get both those runs back in the 4th as Kang would record his second hit of the day a ringing double that one hopped the fence in left, the excitement was short-lived as Kang would be thrown out trying to advance to 3rd on a ball that was hit to the shortstop. A walk and Turnbull's second hit of the day, both followed after the fielder's choice loading the bases with Sugi up once again. The same runners on and the same scenario as his last at bat, bases loaded with less than 2 outs. Sugi was obviously trying to 1-up his 2 RBI double last time as this time he popped the 2-1 offering sky high to the catcher who missed it in fair territory and after some confusion infield fly was called. Hendriks, the lone U13 eligible player in the states would get the 2 out bases loaded job done as #38 would smack a hard double with 2 outs scoring 2 making it 7-3. The Bulldogs continued to fight back scoring 1 in their half of the 4th off a 2 out error. 7-4 Bulldogs after 4.

With Suzuki now on the bump for the 5th inning relieving Symons after his effective one inning of relief, Goon would lead off the bottom half of the frame with a hard single for a leadoff single making him 3 for 3 on base today. Goon would eventually score thanks to another 2 out error this time in centre field the lead was now cut to 2, 7-5 Cards after 5. In the 6th inning, the top of the order once again came through for the Cards. Turnbull would sky a high pop fly in foul territory, the Bulldogs third baseman would not be able to make the routine catch as the 2-out error extended the inning. Turnbull took full advantage of his second life driving the ball over the head of the left-fielder for his third hit of the day, this time a double. Sugi would reach base behind him via. a hit by pitch, both runners Turnbull and Sugi would move up 90" thanks to a wild pitch. 3-hitter Hendriks would hit a gapper as both Turnbull and Sugi would score on the 2 out single setting up the crushing blow once again. With the score up to 9-5 now and Hendriks on second after the stolen base, Baybay who scored 3 with a 3 RBI double last game absolutely connected, this time with Goon's offering sending it well over the tall fence in left for a 330 ft. home run. A deep, jaw-dropping shot that padded the lead to 6 and put this game to bed. Suzuki locked down the 6th giving himself 2 clean innings, West Coast over Bulldogs Blue 11-5 in 6 innings.

Both games weren't pretty but the boys in their Cardinal reds got the job done making the milestone anniversary for Canada more memorable. They will need to be at their very best Sunday in order to make the gold bracket on Monday.