The machine that is the team called the Galway Hitmen kept on rolling over all in its path Friday as it rumbled into playoffs the 2018 Canadian senior men’s fastpitch championship in St. Croix, N.S.
The Newfoundland and Labrador representatives finished the preliminary round on top of the 10-team standings with a 6-0 record after blasting the Bulyea Rustlers of Saskatchewan 8-0 and the Sooke, B.C. Loggers by a 12-1 score.
Both games were shortened to five innings by virtue of the seven-run mercy rule. In fact, four of the Hitmen’s last four games have been abbreviated in such fashion.
Overall, the Newfoundland team outscored its opposition 44-2 in preliminary play.
The Hitmen entered Friday having already assured itself a double life in the playoffs, which begin today. It’s first playoff game will be against Alberta’s Grande Prairie Pirates (3-3) this morning. The Hitmen downed the Pirates 5-1 earlier in the week.
Against the Rustlers, Kyle Ezekiel, Mathieu Roy and Daniel Dalton all had two-run home runs, while Jason Hill pitched his second shutout of the tourney, allowing just one hit and two walks.
In defeating the Loggers, the Hitmen handed the British Columbia team its first loss of the tournament
Colin Walsh threw a three-hitter and didn’t allow a walk in the night-time win, while Blair and Brad Ezekiel, Kyle’s brothers, drove in four and three runs, respectively, with each hitting a home run.
Dalton also went deep for the Newfoundland team, with Steven Mullaley collecting two RBIs.
Eight of the 10 teams in the tournament are in the playoffs, with the top four owning a double life.
After Newfoundland had won five straight Canadian championships, the Hirmen settled for a silver medal at the 2017 nationals after losing to Nova Scotia's East Hanst Mastodons in the final. The Mastodons (4-2) are competing in this tourney, but didn't face the Hitmen in preliminary play.
