The Howe Sound Cannons failed to win their fourth consecutive North Shore Men's Baseball Association (NSMBA) title last weekend - but it took nothing less than a former major-leaguer to help end their winning streak.
Simon Pond, who played with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2004, led the way for the Brewers as they swept the Cannons two games to none in the best of three final in North Vancouver Thursday to Saturday (Aug. 12 to 15).
"It took the help of a former major leaguer but the Brewers finally beat us when it counted," said Cannons player David Jones in an emailed update to The Chief.
Pond collected four hits over the weekend, including one homerun and six runs batted in, to help the Brewers eliminate the Cannons.
Jones said there was disappointment over the final result among the ranks, but he went on to highlight the tremendous success the Cannons have had over the last few years.
"We have finishedfirst four straight years (2007-2010), won theplayoffs three years (2007-2009)and the league's midseason tournament (2008-2010) three years running," he said. "This is a small hiccup but they were a tough team to beat this year.
"Does anyone know any former major-leaguers?" he added.
Despite the major-leaguer's presence, the Cannons weren't short on beautiful plays themselves. Most notably, Kevin "Money" Malkie laid down sacrifice bunts "like a pro" during the playoffs and when he had a chance to hit, he would "rip line drives for base hits," said Jones.
Game one on Thursday (Aug. 12) saw the Brewers score four runs in the first two innings, but pitcher Jeremy Galley and the team's defence ended their run, but ended up with a 4-2 loss.
"We scraped together two runs, but couldn't get anything else going," said Jones.
Game two saw the Cannons start off shaky as Alex Wishinski experienced some "self-control problems," in his first three innings, according to Jones.
"[Then] Kenny Webb came in and utilized his mystery pitchand shut them down for the rest of the game, with the exception of a two-run Pond homerun," he said.
They "came alive" in the seventh inning with six runs under their belts, said Jones, as Malkie hit one so hard the pitcher couldn't get out of the way and it hit him on his arm.
"Justin Krazanowski has said that Malkie is a small old man but you wouldn't know it," said Jones.
Unfortunately, the team had "dug too deep of a hole" and lost the deciding game 11-7.
But they were magnanimous in defeat.
"We all gave Scott Thitchener from the Brewers (player/manager) a hearty cheer when hehoisted our trophy," said Jones.
For more information and full stats from the game, visit www.ballcharts.com/hscannons.
