Bolton Brewers fall in AAA baseball opener

May 24, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte
The long ball was the enemy of the AAA Bolton Brewers in their first match of the Greater Toronto Baseball League season, as they were bested by the Leaside Leafs 8-3 on the road.
A three-run home run and a solo jack highlighted a 10-hit game for the Leafs, who led from the second inning on.
Sophomore pitcher Zack Riddell took to the mound first for the Brewers, giving up three earned runs and six hits over the first five innings. The strong right-hander struck out four in the outing, but trailed 4-0 upon being relieved.
Following two shutout innings pitched by Carlos Perez, Bolton came up just a hair shy of mounting a late-game comeback in the eighth inning. Luis Ortiz Jr., Tyler Goetzern and Francesco Amantea crossed the plate to bring the score to within one. They were “one-upped”, however, in the bottom of the inning when reliever Trent Barwick was tagged with four hits over four runs.
The Brewers put up no more offence in the ninth. Riddell was tagged with the loss.
Darius Barlas, an alumnus of NCAA college ball with the University of Mary Marauders, was strong in his GTBL debut for the Brewers in going three-for-four at the plate.
GTBL action resumes for the Brewers Thursday night, hosting the Pickering Red Sox in their home opener. Opening pitch is scheduled for 7:30p.m. at North Hill Park in Bolton.
The Brewers will see a number of old rivals this weekend, as the Lisle Astros host their annual Victoria Day tournament at the Ross Houston Memorial Park. The tournament consists mainly of teams from the NDBL, the Brewers’ AA league prior to 2015, with the Brewers first facing the Ivy Leafs Saturday morning.
The Leafs halted a five-year title run for the Brewers in 2014, their last season in the NDBL, winning their best-of-five semifinal series.
For stats, schedules, and more information, visit www.ndbl.ca