By Justin Lethbridge
July 10, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
The Burlington Bandits started off hot but were unable to hold onto a lead and lost 12-11 to the London Majors.
Burlington’s Shaun Cooper got off to a great start with a two-run blast in the bottom of the first. Cooper’s 2nd two-run shot, combined with a few errors by the Major’s in the second and third innings resulted in a huge 8-0 lead for the Bandits after 3 innings.
Both teams look on as the Bandits try to bring a win home in the 9th – they missed
Despite the huge deficit, the Major’s came out swinging in the fourth. First Cleveland Brownlee got the Major’s on the board with a home run, than two batters latter Larry Gonzalez got a two-run dinger of his own to cut the lead in half. Hits in the fifth and sixth innings would bring London to within one, than an error by Burlington allowed the Major’s to tie the game at 8-8.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Bandits would respond. First Dan Franceschetti would steal home base than Shaun Cooper would add his third two-run shot of the night to retake the lead.
Two runs in the seventh followed by two more in the eighth allowed London to take the lead and their closer Braeden Ferrington shut the Bandits down. Through three innings he had five strikeouts while only allowing two hits to give London the dramatic victory.
Burlington has a week off until they start a home and home with Hamilton, while London is back at it on Friday at home against Guelph. The loss keeps the Bandits tied with Hamilton for second last in the league at 8-17 on the season. The full standings are: Barrie in 1st, Kitchener in 2nd, Brandford in 3rd, London in 4th, Toronto in 5th, Hamilton and Burlington tied for 6th and Guelph in last place.
Bandits lost but the game was entertaining and the price was right. 1st time attending – good events between the innings for adults and the kids. A very family friendly event.