If you believe in patterns, then you might see the NTV Hitmen as having the best chance of coming away with a title in the 2019 Molson provincial senior men’s fastpitch championship, which begins this evening at Lions Park in St. John’s.
The Hitmen are one of four teams — all members of the St. John’s senior men’s league — entered in the event. The other three have each claimed in provincial crown in the last three years. The 3 Cheers Pub Bud Light Dodgers were champions in 2018, the Kelly's Pub Molson Bulldogs won in 2017 and The Bigs took the title in 2016.
The Hitmen were runners-up in the 2016 and 2017 provincials. They also finished second to the Bulldogs in the 2019 edition of the other local major annual senior fastpitch competition, the St. John’s Day tournament, held in June.
This year’s provincials begin with The Bigs, who are 4-15 in the senior league this season, taking on the Bulldogs (15-5) at 6 p.m. today, followed by an 8 p.m. contest between the Bulldogs (13-6) and defending provincial champion Dodgers (10-10).
The teams will finish up round-robin play with four games set for Saturday morning and afternoon, establishing seedings for the start of Page playoffs on Sunday morning. That’s when the first-and-second place teams will meet, followed by a contest between the third- and fourth-place finishers.
The winner of the first game advances directly to the final, scheduled for Monday evening at Lions Park. The other finalist will emerge from a 2 p.m. Sunday matchup between the loser of the 1-2 contest and the 3-4 winner.
Twitter: @telysports
