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Storm returns to fastball league
final
St. Thomas sweeps Alvinston with 6-4 win in South Middlesex semifinal
September 9, 2024
By Rob J. Ross
FINGAL, Ont. - Randy Gray was hit by a pitch in the first inning.
In the sixth inning, Gray hit back driving in the winning run, as the St. Thomas Storm defeated the Alvinston Aces, 6-4, Sunday, to sweep the South Middlesex men's fastball League semifinal in two games.
St. Thomas meets the Chippewa Chiefs in the best of five championship final starting Tuesday, September 10 in Fingal.
"We talked before the game and said we got to play Tuesday night and I rather play here than in Alvinston (if third game required)," Storm manager Tom Edie said. "I love it when the plan comes together. It was a little bit of a nail biter but we persevered. We try to play good defence even though we're older and try to get timely hits."
Storm starting pitcher Dan Beecroft worked five innings, striking out eight batters, allowing four runs on three hits and two walks.
"I had a good rise ball going tonight. That seemed to be working well for me and the changeup was decent tonight," said Beecroft. "(Alvinston) is a good, young hitting team. They never give up on any ball. They never give up on any at bat. They fight right to the end, so you have to put the pedal to the metal on them."
Alvinston jumped out to a 3-0 in the first inning, on a three-run homer by Aaron Waugh, hoping to take the series to a decisive third game.
Mitch Roy, two-for-three for the game, figured in three of the Storm's first four runs. Roy put the Storm on the board leading off the home half of the first with a solo shot. A two-out bases loaded walk to Jeff MacPherson made it 3-2.
Roy led off the second inning with a double and tied the game, scoring on an error. In the third, Roy was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, giving the Storm a 4-3 lead.
Bailey Whiteye tied the game on a solo shot.
Gray put the Storm back on top at 5-4 in the fifth, before Mike Unwin singled in Paul Grasby who led off the sixth with a walk.
Pitcher Ben Hodgins earned the save retiring six of seven batters faced over the sixth and seventh innings.
"That last run was a little insurance. It was nice to answer after Whiteeye hit the home run to tie it up. We went right back out in the bottom and got that run back," said Edie. "I knew it was time to bring Ben in. Beecroft had been twice through the order."
Only in the game to pinch run, in the sixth with one out, Troy Rick's quick decision to dive back to first place, allowed the Storm to score their sixth run.
Instead of running into a double play, Rick forced the Aces to throw to first base for only one out, keeping the inning alive.
"They can only get the one out if they don't tag him," said Edie. "We had a run score on that play. The insurance run. A heads up play by a veteran player."
In the seventh, Hodgins and Gray at first base, made a vital defensive play, on a slow roller that Hodgins swatted along the ground to Gray who quickly scooped up the ball.
"That could have been disaster," Edie said. "Andy (Triest) was up next and he's probably going to bunt and he's fast and then the top of the order is coming up. It's different with two outs and nobody on than it is with guys on base."
Gray and MacPherson, both finished two-for-three, while Tyler Annett was two-for-four. Grasby drew a pair of walks in three at bats.
Chippewa upended first place Highgate Rock (17-3) in their semifinal, winning 2-0 and 3-1.
The Storm and Chiefs split the season series, with St. Thomas winning 2-0 on August 6 and Chippewa, 2-1, on June 27th.
Both teams only had four losses during the season. The Storm played three more games, to finish 16-4, in third place.
Chippewa is led by pitcher Pami Mazulugwa, "the best pitcher in the league, says Edie.
"It's nothing we haven't seen before and we're not going to be intimidated," said Edie. "Our pitching has to keep their runs to a minimum and we have to score off him."
Game two is at Chippewa, on Thursday, September 12th and game three is back at Fingal, Sunday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m.
The Storm lost the 2023 final in five games to the Glencoe Astros. St. Thomas has been in five of the six most recent finals (2020, 2021 seasons cancelled), but their last championship was 2019.
Game one
Ben Hodgins tossed a five hitter while striking out nine batters, as St. Thomas defeated Alvinston, 7-1, September 3, in game one of the South Middlesex semifinal.
A tight affair, at 3-1, until the Storm secured victory scoring four runs in the seventh inning.
Tyler Annett had two singles and three RBI, while Chris Wismer drove in two runs on a pair of doubles. Mitch Roy and Jason Dawdy, both had a single, double and one RBI. Mike Unwin drew two walks and scored twice.
The Storm carried a 1-0 lead into the fifth inning, when Annett delivered a two-run single. The Aces scored their lone run on three singles in the home half of the fifth.
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