Cardinals complete a Royal upset in comeback fashion
The Hamilton Cardinals defeated the Guelph Royals 6-4 in Game Five of the IBL Quarterfinals at David E. Hastings Stadium on Friday night.
The Cardinals trailed 4-0 after a homerun by Royals’ first baseman, Justin Interisano, but stormed back to tie the game late.
Laine Renaud got it started in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single to score Luis Jean making it a 4-1 ball game.
Then in the seventh, Jean tripled to bring home three runs and tie it 4-4.
Jose Fernandez, Daury Torrez and Corben Peters held down the fort for Hamilton from the fifth inning on, combining for no earned runs on just two hits in six innings of work, and striking out nine Guelph batters.
In the top of the ninth, the Cardinals had the bases loaded with one out but were unable to bring the go-ahead run home.
Then in the top of the tenth, Ryan Burnside singled and Robin Fox-Pappas took a walk to bring up Jacob Underwood.
Underwood shocked the Royals with a two-run triple to put Hamilton up 6-4 and eventually advance them to the IBL Semifinals.
Sam Turcotte was the starter for the Cardinals and kept the boys in it, giving up three earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts in his four innings of work. Peters was credited with the win.
Royals’ pitcher, Claudio Custodio, did his thing, striking out 13 Cardinals batters in six innings, but it wasn’t enough to stop what was perhaps one of the biggest upsets in IBL history.
Honourable mention to Sean Reilly and Dalton Pompey of the Guelph Royals who played what could be the final game of their great careers.
The Cardinals will play Game One of the second round on Sat, Sept 3 at 7:05 p.m. at Labatt Memorial Park against the London Majors. They will then return home to Bernie Arbour Memorial Stadium on Sun, Sept 4 at 2:05 p.m. for Game Two.
Tickets can be purchased for Sunday's game online through SeatGIANT or at the gate prior to the game.
The Hamilton Cardinals Baseball Club is a member of Canada's best league, the Intercounty Baseball League. The over 100-year old summer league is one of the oldest baseball leagues in the world, established in 1919.
Written by Jarrett Matthews
Photo by Art Ward