In a classic pitcher's duel, the Maple City Brewers fell 3-2 in eight innings against the Sarnia Braves on Tuesday night in Sarnia. The Brewers took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning, but could not hold on for the victory, succumbing in eight innings to the home side.

Dave Carey was brilliant for Maple City, throwing a complete game, yielding only three hits. Carey was attempting to throw his second consecutive no-hitter. With some shaky infield defense behind him in the early innings Carey battled through the Braves line-up, ending with eight strikeouts.

The Brewers opened the scoring in the top of the fourth inning, Ryan Cattrysse (RF) walked, stole second, and waltzed to third on a throwing error by the Sarnia catcher. After two flyouts and a Denny Toth (CF) walk, Mike Verfaillie (1B) came up clutch with a 2 out line drive single past the first baseman to plate Cattrysse and give the Brewers a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom half of the fourth inning Cattrysse stole what would have been a sure double from the Braves as he sprinted into the gap, dove with full extension and caught the ball just above the grass. The game would stay 1-0 until the seventh inning, as the Brewer defense settled down and started making plays in support of Dave Carey.

The bottom of the seventh started with a fly out to center and a strikeout, but with Carey one out away from another no-hitter, he hit the next batter to put the tying run aboard. Then, after battling to a full count, Carey surrendered a triple to the left-center gap that plated the tying run. He made short work of the next hitter, striking him out on three pitches and sending the game to extra innings.

Adopted by the Western Counties League in 2011 is the International Tie Break Rule which states that every extra inning starts with a runner on second base. Joe Wright (LF) started the top of the eighth inning on second base for the Brewers and promptly stole third base. With the infield drawn in, Joel Smith (2B) lined a 2-2 fastball over the short stop for his second hit of the game, putting the Brewers ahead again, 2-1. That would be all for Maple City in the eighth and Carey went back to the mound to finish the game.

The botttom of the eighth started ominously for the Brewers as Carey, appearing to tire, walked the first two batters, which because of the runner starting the inning on second base, loaded the bases. Then Mike Verfaillie came up clutch for the second time on the evening, snagging a sharp line drive on the infield grass at first base, and capitalizing on a baserunning miscue, tagged the runner on first who had broke for second on the play.

But with 2 outs, runners on second and third, and 2 strikes on the batter, Sarnia once again came through with a base hit. A single to left field scored the tying run and the winning run appeared to be out on the relay throw from Joey Hewak (3B) but was called safe, giving the Braves a walk-off win. Full box score available.The Braves stay undefeated in the Western Counties League, as the Brewers fall to 3-1.

The Maple City Brewers continue their road trip on Friday, visiting the Leamington Barons, followed by a Saturday trip to Harrow for a double header, and a Sunday afternoon game in Port Lambton.