After winning the Nova Scotia Intermediate Baseball League championship for the past nine years, Shamrocks team spokesperson Deron Moores said the obvious Sunday evening: "all good things must end."
Moores was disappointed that the team travelled all the way to Shelburne County Aug. 17 and were actually getting their gear on when the skies opened up and the rain started.
Moores said they waited for a little while to see if the rain would subside, but it didn't. “The field had absorbed so much water that it would have been impossible to play,” he noted.
With the scheduling of games so tight, and next to no room for make-up games, the Shamrocks won't be able to play their remaining two games with the Shelburne County Schooners. As such, they won't be able to bump the fourth place Pictou County Albions out of the running for the league championships this weekend in Noel Road.
The Shamrocks finished the season in fifth place with a 10-12 record for 42 points compared to Pictou's 13-6 mark for 45 points.
Moores hopes the league executive will examine the schedule next season so that there would be plenty of time to play make-up games. He also suggested Hantsport and Windsor being able to play some night games to help alleviate the playtime crunch.
However, Moores said the team “certainly under performed this season,” as they lost all four games to Yarmouth and three of four games to Pictou. “When you do this, missing the playoffs is the price you pay.”
Blue Jays, Knights vying for league title
As for action on the field involving local teams this past weekend, the Noel Road Blue Jays were rained out in Pictou on Friday evening, Aug. 15, and won't be able to play their make-up game. The Windsor Knights, on the other hand, recorded their 13th and 14th wins of the season on Sunday.
The Knights recorded 9-3 and 6-0 victories over the Kennetcook Braves.
Despite going without a win all summer, the Braves ended up being the only team in the league to play a complete 24-game schedule.
Jason Hanes pitched the opening game win for the Knights, who batted around in the sixth inning and scored six times. Ryan Clarke recorded three singles, scored two runs and drove in another.
In the second game, which was called after five innings due to rain, there was no score after three innings before the Knights erupted.
Dave Swindall threw a one-hitter for the win and also collected a pair of doubles including a two-run shot.
Catcher Gwenaël Dugué went three for three with three stolen bases and an RBI.
Championship weekend
Despite losing out on first place on the final weekend, the Noel Road Blue Jays will host the NSIBL championship weekend beginning Saturday morning, Aug. 23, at 9 a.m. Yarmouth will play Pictou in the playoff opener and Windsor will then play Noel Road at 11 a.m. It is a double knock tournament. The championship game will be held on Sunday, Aug. 24.
NSIBL 2014 regular season standings
1. Yarmouth 18-4 = 58 points
2. Noel Road 17-6 = 57 points
3. Windsor 14-8 = 50 points
4. Pictou 13-6 = 45 points
5. Hantsport 10-12 = 42 points
6. Shelburne 5-17 = 32 points
7. Kennetcook 0-24 = 24 points
* Each win was worth three points and a loss one point.
After winning the Nova Scotia Intermediate Baseball League championship for the past nine years, Shamrocks team spokesperson Deron Moores said the obvious Sunday evening: "all good things must end."
Moores was disappointed that the team travelled all the way to Shelburne County Aug. 17 and were actually getting their gear on when the skies opened up and the rain started.
Moores said they waited for a little while to see if the rain would subside, but it didn't. “The field had absorbed so much water that it would have been impossible to play,” he noted.
With the scheduling of games so tight, and next to no room for make-up games, the Shamrocks won't be able to play their remaining two games with the Shelburne County Schooners. As such, they won't be able to bump the fourth place Pictou County Albions out of the running for the league championships this weekend in Noel Road.
The Shamrocks finished the season in fifth place with a 10-12 record for 42 points compared to Pictou's 13-6 mark for 45 points.
Moores hopes the league executive will examine the schedule next season so that there would be plenty of time to play make-up games. He also suggested Hantsport and Windsor being able to play some night games to help alleviate the playtime crunch.
However, Moores said the team “certainly under performed this season,” as they lost all four games to Yarmouth and three of four games to Pictou. “When you do this, missing the playoffs is the price you pay.”
Blue Jays, Knights vying for league title
As for action on the field involving local teams this past weekend, the Noel Road Blue Jays were rained out in Pictou on Friday evening, Aug. 15, and won't be able to play their make-up game. The Windsor Knights, on the other hand, recorded their 13th and 14th wins of the season on Sunday.
The Knights recorded 9-3 and 6-0 victories over the Kennetcook Braves.
Despite going without a win all summer, the Braves ended up being the only team in the league to play a complete 24-game schedule.
Jason Hanes pitched the opening game win for the Knights, who batted around in the sixth inning and scored six times. Ryan Clarke recorded three singles, scored two runs and drove in another.
In the second game, which was called after five innings due to rain, there was no score after three innings before the Knights erupted.
Dave Swindall threw a one-hitter for the win and also collected a pair of doubles including a two-run shot.
Catcher Gwenaël Dugué went three for three with three stolen bases and an RBI.
Championship weekend
Despite losing out on first place on the final weekend, the Noel Road Blue Jays will host the NSIBL championship weekend beginning Saturday morning, Aug. 23, at 9 a.m. Yarmouth will play Pictou in the playoff opener and Windsor will then play Noel Road at 11 a.m. It is a double knock tournament. The championship game will be held on Sunday, Aug. 24.
NSIBL 2014 regular season standings
1. Yarmouth 18-4 = 58 points
2. Noel Road 17-6 = 57 points
3. Windsor 14-8 = 50 points
4. Pictou 13-6 = 45 points
5. Hantsport 10-12 = 42 points
6. Shelburne 5-17 = 32 points
7. Kennetcook 0-24 = 24 points
* Each win was worth three points and a loss one point.
