Lundberg lifts 'Cats to wins
Sports
Posted By LUKE EDWARDS, SPECIAL TO THE EXAMINER
Posted 2 months ago
Leave it to Jordan Lundberg to finish things off.
The Barrie Baycats catcher was in the thick of things during a doubleheader against London at Barrie Metals Stadium on Saturday. He finished off the first game with a walkoff homerun in the 10th inning and then tagged out Paul Lytwenyk as he attempted to score to close out Game 2.
Barrie won the first game 4-3 and the second game 2-1, running their record to 10-2 on the season. Their five-game win streak was snapped with a 6-5 road loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday afternoon.
While Barrie should probably be counting their blessings somewhat that they got away with two victories on Saturday, Baycats manager Angus Roy said that they showed what kind of team they are.
"It shows a lot about our ball club ... we found a way to win," Roy said.
In Game 1 of the doubleheader, it looked like Barrie might blow a strong start by Brad Bissell and a shaky one by London's starter, Craig Bate.
Bissell went seven innings, giving up three runs. He only made one big error and that turned into two runs, as Cleveland Brownlee hit a two-run home run off the Barrie lefty after a lengthy at-bat.
While Bissell was economical and efficient, Bate was anything but. The London hurler walked eight batters in 6 1/3 innings, but managed to only give up two runs, as Barrie only managed three hits off Bate.
Jonathan Baksh tied the game in the seventh inning by scoring on a wild pitch. After neither team managed much through innings eight and nine, Lundberg wasted no time in the 10th.
"I'm a first-ball fastball hitter, and he gave me one right there," the Midhurst native said.
Lundberg took the first pitch of the inning over the left-centre field wall to end the game.
In a twist of coincidence, Lundberg also played the hero when London came to town for a doubleheader last season. He smacked game-winning home-runs in both games -- one in extras.
In Game 2, Barrie once again relied on strong starting pitching, as Paul Spoljaric limited London to one run on six hits over five innings. Barrie scored runs in the first and second inning, and managed to hold London to just the single run.
In the seventh inning, London catcher, Mike Welbourne, reached on a single and was moved to second base when Ryan LaPensee walked. With two out, Alan Cattrysse roped a line drive single into left field.
However, Barrie left fielder Stevie Lewis was quick getting the ball to home plate and Lundberg was able to apply the tag to end the game.
"I knew I had the out if I picked it. (Luckily), it was a straight hop," Lundberg said.
For local baseball fans, a doubleheader makes for a wonderful day. The Baycats are known as a community-oriented team and in between games on Saturday that was on full display.
The biggest problem for fans who stuck around for both games of the twin bill was whether or not to wear a jacket. The sun spent the entire afternoon dodging behind clouds and cooling everyone off, only to reappear moments later and shine down on Metals Stadium.
Barrie's next home game is Thursday, against the Mississauga Twins. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
sports@thebarrieexaminer.com
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