Hitmen advance to softball final

NTV Hitmen completed a three-game sweep of The Bigs to punch their ticket to the St. John’s Molson Senior Men’s Softball League final.

The Hitmen dispatched The Bigs 11-4 in five innings Thursday to take the best-of-five semifinal in straight games.

Meanwhile, Kelly’s Pub Molson Bulldogs staved off elimination with a 2-1 win over 3 Cheers Pub Bud Light Dodgers. The Dodgers lead the series 2-1.

At Lions Park, Lee Cose (5IP, 4R, 6H, 1BB, 3K) pitched the win for the Hitmen. Mike Noftall (2IP, 6R, 9H, 2BB, 0K) started and was charged with the loss. Jordan Hamilton (3IP, 5R, 7H, 3BB, 0K) finished up.

Chris Murphy was three-for-four for the winners, and Brad Ezekiel, Fergus Griffiths, Robbie Greene, Danny Mullins and Sheldon Keough all had two hits. Ezekiel hit a three-run home run and Mullins had a solo shot.

Sean Cleary scattered four hits and struck out 12 to keep the Bulldogs in the playoffs. Blair Ezekiel collected two hits and smacked a solo home run for the winners, who scored runs in the first and fifth innings.

Jason Hill (6IP, 2R, 5H, 3BB, 7K) was the losing pitcher.

The Dodgers and Bulldogs tangle in Game 4 of their series 1 o’clock Sunday afternoon at Lions Park.