Bandits lose a shootout in Barrie - 9-8 leaves them sixth in an 8 team league

element_sportsCBy Clinton Dixon

July 8, 2015

BURLINGTON, ON

On a cold summer’s day the Burlington Bandits made their way North up the 400 to once again battle with the reigning IBL Champion Barrie Baycats. Unfortunately Burlington was not able to come out on top in the game, losing in a shootout, the final score 9-8 in favour of Barrie.

The game almost never happened as Barrie experienced heavy rainfall for the majority of the day. In the end the rain let up just in time, allowing Burlington to try and redeem themselves after losing to Barrie 17-4 at home last weekend. “We’ve been better,” said Burlington’s Coach Kyle MacKinnon, “we still have to fight with the top dogs. Keep scratching out the wins we should, and beat someone we shouldn’t.”

After a 45-minute delay the field was finally ready and Colonel Doyon, Commander of Canadian Forces Base Borden, took the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Military Day at Coates Stadium.

Baycat batter July 8

Luis Diaz tosses his bat after being walked.

When the game finally got underway it was easy to see that the wet conditions were making it tough for both teams. In the top of the first inning Adam Odd hit a ground ball right at Barrie’s second baseman Luis Diaz; the play should have resulted in an easy out, but the conditions resulted in Diaz losing grip on the ball, throwing into his own dugout. Odd would score shortly afterwards to open the scoring for the game.

From that point on there were several lead changes that saw Burlington put up the fight their coach was asking for.

However, they weren’t able to find that killer instinct and put the game out of reach. After holding the lead several times the Bandits found themselves going into the eighth inning down 8-5. After Brandon Hillier singled to left and Adam Odd singled to right Shaun Cooper stepped to the plate and belted a home run to tie the game.

The season needed a lot of improvement - but the community spirit is certainly evident.

Bandits lose to the Barrie Baycats – Close – but that doesn’t count in baseball.

Sadly the win wasn’t in the cards for Burlington, in the bottom of the eighth Luis Diaz scored for Barrie on a single by Kyle DeGrace, putting the Baycats on top for good as they went on to win the game 9-8.

The loss leaves Burlington with an 8-16 record, and in sixth position in the eight team league.

The Bandits now travel to Brantford to play the Red Sox tonight, Wednesday July 8 at 8:00 p.m.

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