A short bench didn't stop the Maple City Brewers from sweeping a double header against the Harrow Blues, Saturday afternoon. In game one, the Brewers found themselves in a back and forth affair that ended 7-6 in the tenth inning after Mike Verfaillie (1B) singled in Jason Shaw (3B), before Joey Hewak slammed the door with three straight strike outs. Game 2 was all Maple City as the Brewers pounded Harrow in an 11-6 win.

In the opener, Dave Smith pitched a career high 8 and 2/3 innings of quality baseball. After giving up two runs in the first, Smith settled down and only yielded two runs (both unearned) for the next seven innings. In the ninth inning, Smith allowed a leadoff double before retiring the next two batters on some crafty pitching, but back to back hits tied the game and put the winning run on second base.

Joey Hewak came out of center field cold to replace Smith and got the first batter he faced to pop up to the first baseman, sending the game to the tenth inning.

The Brewers bats struck early in game one. Matt Knights (SS) doubled with one out in the first, then with two outs Brandyn Broadwood (C) singled in Knights, and then Shaw hit a towering fly ball to the warning track for a double which scored Broadwood.

The top of the third inning saw three straight singles to open the frame, followed by a monster fly ball from Broadwood that sent the Harrow left fielder to the warning track to make the catch. The result of the play would have been a sac fly, however, the runner from third was deemed to have left too early and the end result was a double play. With Jason Shaw at the plate, the Harrow pitcher became a little wild and two runners scored on a passed ball. Matt Knights came home from third and when the throw from the catcher to the pitcher covering home went awry, Hewak also scampered home on the play, giving the Brewers a 4-2 lead.

The Blues came back with single runs in the 3rd and 4th innings tying the score at 4, then both teams were silent until the ninth inning. Verfaillie and Jordan Roy (RF) both walked to start the top of the ninth and a sac bunt by Dave Seguin (LF) moved them to second and third. Joel Smith (2B) was intentionally walked to load the bases, bringing Matt Knights to the plate. A clutch single past a diving first baseman plated two runs and gave Knights a 3-5 day at the plate with 2 RBI, 2 runs scored and a stolen base.

Again, the resilient Blues from Harrow managed to tie the ball game sending it to a tenth inning. Shaw led off with another double, and moved to third on a Dave Smith sac bunt. Mike Verfaillie came up clutch with a single and cashed in what turned out to be the winning run. Joey Hewak went back to the mound in the tenth and made short work of the Blues, retiring the side on strikeouts.

In the second game of the day, the Maple City bats came alive and burst out of the gate with a five run first inning. Matt Knights walked, Joey Hewak came aboard via a hit by pitch, then Broadwood stroked a majestic home run over the left field wall to put the Brewers up 3-0. The inning continued with back to back singles by Jason Shaw and Dave Smith, and a double steal put them in scoring position. Mike Verfaillie continued to swing a hot bat on the day, picking up a sac fly, then Jordan Roy came up clutch with a two out double that plated the fifth run of the inning.

In the fourth inning with the score 5-1, the Brewers put the game on ice. The first five batters of the inning reached base on three singles and two walks, four of them coming around to score and the fifth getting thrown out at home plate attempting to score on a wild pitch.

That was more than enough offence for starting pitcher Matt Rylett (2-0), who pitched better than the score sheet would indicate. After a shaky first inning, Rylett pounded the strike zone, keeping the Harrow hitters off balance with a plethora of sliders and curveballs. Sloppy defense resulted in a few unearned scoring late in the game which were inconsequential, as the game was well in hand at that point. The Brewers were up 11-2 going into the bottom of the sixth and put it on cruise control after that. Full box score available.

Maple City visits Woodslee on Wednesday evening before playing a four game homestand Friday through Sunday at Fergie Jenkins Field in Chatham.