Port Hood Blue Jays catcher Reid Anstey gets the out call on this play at the plate, where Inverness Ravens’ base runner Alistair MacLeod’s foot went wide as he slid into home in last Tuesday’s U15 Bluenose League game in Inverness.
-by Bill Dunphy
Two weeks after the Port Hood Blue Jays schooled the Inverness Ravens in a 13-3 win at Judique, the Ravens scored five fourth-inning runs on Tuesday of last week to beat the Jays 10-7 in U15 Bluenose League baseball action.
Both teams are ramping up their games for the Aug. 21-23 provincial tournament that the Jays are hosting at the Leo A. MacDonell field in Judique.
Last Tuesday’s win was a confidence builder for the Ravens.
“It was a well played game,” said Ravens assistant coach Dan MacLeod, noting it’s important to get games in before provincial weekend.
“Ryder (MacLean), Colton (MacIsaac), and Alistair (MacLeod) all pitched well and we came up with a couple more hits than we did than when we were playing them in Judique.”
Port Hood coach Ardell Hawley said the game showed the Jays what they have to improve on while there’s still time.
“Inverness are scrappy and no lead is safe against them,” Hawley said.
“We hit and pitched very well but some uncharacteristic errors in the field led to two big innings that proved to be the difference.”
He added, “We have a couple of weeks to tidy those things up. I have a lot of confidence in this group and look forward to the next few weeks of tune-up as we prepare to host provincials.”
The Blue Jays took a 2-0 lead at the top of the first in last Tuesday’s game at the Ned MacDonald Memorial field.
Reid Anstey walked and scored on a passed ball and Colin MacDougall came home on a balk by Ravens starting pitcher Ryder MacLean.
The Ravens got one run back in their half of the first, with Colton MacIsaac reaching on an error, getting a safe call on a close steal of third, and scoring on an RBI single by Alistair MacLeod.
MacLeod made a try for home from third, running on a throw from Jays starter Malcolm MacInnis to third baseman Carter DeCoste who made a quick relay to the catcher where Anstey slapped the tag on him for the out.
Luke Calder restored Port Hood’s two-run lead in the top of the second on a base hit by Evran Beaton. The Jays then jumped to a 6-1 lead with three runs in the top of the third.
MacDougall and Ashton Hawley each singled and scored while Bentley Cameron walked and scored on a fielder’s choice by MacInnis.
The Inverness bats came alive in the bottom half of the third, sparked by a one-out single by Danny MacDonald who scored on a two-out hit by Alex Dan MacDonnell.
MacIsaac and MacLeod each took a base on balls and a three-run triple by MacLean brought the Ravens to within a run, trailing 6-5.
MacIsaac took the mound for Inverness in a scoreless fourth inning and allowed a run in the fifth as Port Hood went up 7-5.
But once again the top of the Ravens order came through with a four-run inning which began with a one-out single by Brett MacGillivray followed by MacIsaac, MacDonnell and MacLeod each crossing the plate to take a 9-7 lead.
MacIsaac shut the Jays down in the sixth and MacLeod closed out the win in the seventh.
Mac MacLellan scored a run in the sixth for the Ravens to make it a 10-7 final.