Blair Ezekiel pitched the win and hit a two-run homers as the Kelly’s Pub Molson Bulldogs got by the Chayee Bourras Wines Vines 7-5 Friday in the opening game of the 39th annual Molson St. John's Day fastpitch tournament.
It was a complete-game victory for Ezekiel (8H, 3W, 8K), who got the decision over the Vines’ Nick Pittman (7H, 6WB, 6K) who also went the distance.
At Lions Park, Jeremy Hickey and Ezekiel each drove in two runs for the winners, while Ezekiel and Stephen Dobbin both scored twice.
Douglas Cheeseman (H, 2W) reached base three times and scored twice for Chayee Bourras, while the Vines’ Andrew Kelly had two RBIs.
In a second game Friday, Felix Squires hit a three-run home run, Shane Kelly added a two-run shot and winning pitcher Marcus Pittman delivered a solo blast as The Bigs defeated the NTV Hitmen 10-4.
Marcus Pittman (4H, 7K) survived 11 walks for the complete-game win over Hitmen starter Lee Cose (3IP, 8R, 9H, 1W, 3K). Robbie Greene finished up for NTV, which got a solo homer from Fergus Griffiths, who also walked three times.
Play in the five-team tournament, which is an ISC qualifier, continues today with four games, including the first of the event for the defending champion 3 Cheers Pub Bud Light Dodgers, who face The Bigs at 10 a.m.
Playoffs are Sunday, with the championship game set for 2 p.m.
