The ball was flying out over the Lions Park outfield fence this weekend as a new champion was crowned at 56th annual Molson provincial senior men’s softball championship.
In St. John’s Sunday, Jason Hill hit a two-run home run, and Doug Marshall and Steven Pittman both hit solo shots as the 3 Cheers Pub Bud Light Dodgers outlasted Kelly’s Pub Molson Bulldogs 5-4 in eight innings to claim the crown.
A total of 28 home runs were hit through 10 tournament games.
Hill (2.2IP, 4R, 6H, 1BB, 1K), the tournament’s MVP, started, and was relieved by Colin Walsh (5.1IP, 0R, 2H, 2BB, 7K), who was credited with the win.
Sean Cleary (7.1IP, 5R, 7H, 0BB, 6K) went the distance in taking the loss.
Walsh had two hits for the winners. Blair Ezekiel hit a two-run home run for Kelly’s, and Cleary and Mark Lewis had solo blasts.
In semifinal pay, Ezekiel and Liam Myers both hit a pair of two-run home runs, and Cleary cranked a solo shot as Kelly’s defeated the NTV Hitmen 9-2 in five innings to claim the crown.
Cleary (5IP, 2R, 4H, 0BB, 5K) pitched the win in the final over Robbie Greene (4R, 4H, 2BB, 2K), who lasted an inning. Lee Cose (3.2IP, 5R, 6H, 4BB, 3K) finished up.
Gary Bruce and Ezekiel both had two hits for the winners. Hill hit .400 in the tournament with a pair of home runs and six RBIs, and went 2-0 on the mound.
The top batter was NTV’s Brad Ezekiel, who was eight-for-13 (.615 batting average). Daniel Dalton of the Bulldogs (.538 batting average) won the sportsmanship and ability award.
Members of the 3 Cheers Pub championship team are Phillip Corbett, Adam Doyle, Kyle Ezekiel, Jason Hill, Adam Janes, Ryan Kirk, Ryan Maher, Doug Marshall, Tyler McDonald, Blair Pittman, Steven Pittman, Colin Walsh, coach Jeff Kirk and sponsor Juney Bruce.
