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Sunday games no walk in the park

September 28, 2011
By Ryan Stern

As the playoffs draw closer—and teams are more desperate to secure a spot in the standings—the intensity and drive between teams has reached its peak.

The doubleheader between the Mustangs baseball team and Waterloo Warriors this past Sunday at Labatt Park was indicative of the intensity. Although the Mustangs defeated the Warriors 8-2 in first game and 8-0 in the second game, the score took a backseat to the ending of the second game.

As the battle between the second and third place teams became one-sided, tempers began to flare.

“That’s the first time ever in my entire life—playing, coaching, you name it—I’ve ever seen a team refuse to shake hands at the end of the game,” Mike Lumley, Mustangs head coach, said.

With coaches ejected from each side, the umpire warned both benches about taunting. With Mustangs fans and Waterloo coaches arguing, and the Warriors refusing the traditional handshake at the end, the games on Sunday were not lacking in drama.

Waterloo head coach Brian Bishop refused to comment after the game.

Lost in the drama was the Mustangs’ continued dominant play. After starting the season 2-2, they have ripped off six straight wins in which they have scored 58 runs while only surrendering eight.

“Usually the first two weeks are the roughest since guys are coming from their summer teams and it takes time to come together,” Lumley said. “We kept a consistent routine all the time and what we expect from them and it’s coming together at the right time.”

A huge part of that success stems from the offensive firepower the Mustangs have produced. In the first four games of the year, the Mustangs were not able to take advantage of runners in scoring position, but with the offence beginning to fire on all cylinders, they have taken advantage of every opportunity.

“We didn’t have problems getting guys on base early in the season,” Ron Oneson, Mustangs assistant coach, said. “The problem was getting them to third base and stranding them. Now those guys are scoring and we’ve been putting up good numbers.”

The Mustangs started the first game by taking a 2-0 lead in the second inning, including a solo homerun by first baseman Graham Fulton clearing the 330-foot mark over the right field fence.

Western put another five runs on the board in the third inning on the strength of five hits and two costly Waterloo errors.

From that point on Western’s ace, Adam Paish, ensured Waterloo never gained any momentum. Despite scoring two runs in the seventh, it was too little too late for the Warriors as Paish would get the complete game win to go along with six strikeouts.

The second game began slowly until home plate umpire Sean Taylor ejected Lumley in the top of the second inning for arguing that Warriors batters were hitting outside the batters box.

The ejection sparked Western’s bats, fueling them to four runs in the third and three in the fourth.

“The emotions started when Lumley got tossed,” Bryn McDonnell, Mustangs starter, said. “That really sparks a fire under your team.”

With a commanding lead the Mustangs’ complete game one-hit shutout from McDonnell was more than enough. McDonnell was helped by his team’s offence that gave him a comfortable lead early on.

“As a pitcher I enjoy the run support,” said McDonnell. “I don’t want to go out and walk guys. If they get a hit, that’s okay, but you want to go out and trust your defence and know you have the momentum with the lead.”

The Mustangs were further helped by mental mistakes by Waterloo, who committed six errors in total over the two games.

Although Western and Waterloo don’t face each other for the remainder of the season, there is a chance they could meet in the playoffs.

“Both teams were really emotional today and they don’t want to lose to us,” McDonnell said. “There’s a good chance we could see each other in the playoffs since we’ve been close all year.”

The sweep of the doubleheader moves the Mustangs a half game back of the Toronto Varsity Blues for first place. They will meet the Varsity Blues in a doubleheader on October 7 at Labatt Park.

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