Miners, Cards reach CVBL final

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Plattsburgh Cardinals' runner Steve Burris steals second base while Meron's Expos' Pat Shaughnessy applies the late tag during the second game of Sunday's CVBL semifinal playoff series at Lefty Wilson Field. The Cardinals recorded 7-5 and 3-2 victories to move into the finals against the Lyon Mountain Miners. P-R Photo / Gabe Dickens

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August 1, 2011

Cardinals take 2 after losing first game of series vs. Meron's Expos

Anonymous Press-Republican The Press Republican Mon Aug 01, 2011, 03:23 AM EDT

PLATTSBURGH — It will be the Fourth Ward Cardinals against the Lyon Mountain Miners this coming Sunday in the Champlain Valley Baseball League playoff finals.

The top-seeded Cardinals, down 1-0 in their best-of-three semifinal series, recorded two close wins — 7-5 and 3-2 — over the defending playoff champion Meron's Expos at Lefty Wilson Field on Sunday to move into the championship series.

They will play the second-seeded Miners, who scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth on the way to a 14-7 victory over the Fourth Ward Timberjaxx to sweep their series, 2-0.

Game 1 of the best-of-three title series will be at noon in Lyon Mountain on Sunday.

Cardinals 5, Expos 5 Cardinals 3, Expos 3

In Game 1, Nate Durkee's grand slam in a five-run bottom of the third inning provided the margin of difference.

Fourth Ward took a 7-1 lead and then held on for the win to force a deciding game.

Tory Bouyea went 3-for-3, including a double, for the Cardinals, while Frank Buksa added a single, double and two RBI, Matt Duquette a solo homer and Tom Neale two hits in support of winning pitcher Steve Burris, who finished with eight strikeouts.

Losing pitcher Matt Dahlin paced the Cardinals with two home runs and three RBI, while Pat Shaughnessy chipped in with two doubles.

In Game 2, Dustin Currier pitched out of numerous jams to get the pitching win, while Tyler Mesec was the tough-luck loser, allowing just five hits.

It was a 2-all tie after one inning before Matt Duquette's RBI hit in the bottom of the fourth gave the Cardinals the lead for good.

The Expos, who had 11 hits in all, stranded 12 runners, including not scoring after having runners on second and third, with nobody out, in the top of the sixth.

Matt Duquette added another solo homer and Brian Latulipe had two hits for the Cardinals.

Kris Cauchon, Dahlin and Mark Passino all rapped out two hits apiece for the Expos, with Dahlin, Passino and Shaughnessy having a double each.

—

Cardinals 7, Expos 5

Expos 100 211 0 — 5 5 1

Cardinals 205 000 x — 7 10 1

Dahlin, Kelly (3) and Conners. Burris and Bujold. WP- Burris. LP- Dahlin. 2B- Shaughnessy (E), Bouyea (C), Buksa (C). HR- Dahlin (E) 2, M. Duquette (C), Durkee (C).

—

Cardinals 3, Expos 2

Expos 200 000 0 — 2 11 0

Cardinals 200 100 x — 3 5 2

Mesec and Conners. Currier and Bujold. WP- Currier. LP- Mesec. 2B- Dahlin (E), Passino (E), Shaughnessy (E). HR- M. Duquette (C).

Miners 14, Timberjaxx 7

LYON MOUNTAIN — Reilly Lawless went 4-for-4, including a double, three RBI and three runs scored, to help power the Miners past the Timberjaxx.

Lyon Mountain held a 7-2 advantage when the Timberjaxx scored five runs in the top of the sixth inning to tie it.

The Miners, however, tallied seven runs in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of five hits, two walks and three Fourth Ward errors.

Jamie Juntunen added three hits and two RBI for the Miners, while Cody Weaver and Nick Chase, who was the winning pitcher in relief, added two hits apiece.

It marked the fourth year in a row the Miners have advanced to the CVBL playoff finals.

Justin Mahan went 3-for-3, including two RBI, to lead the Timberjaxx. A.J. Gordon and Josh Chapman added two hits apiece, while T.J. Brunell chipped in with a triple and Andrew Price a 3-run double.

Price ended up going the distance in taking the pitching loss.

—

Miners 14, Timberjaxx 7

Timberjaxx 000 115 0 — 7 12 5

Miners 022 127 x — 14 14 3

Price and Gordon. VanHouten, Besaw (5), N. Chase (6) and K. Kowalowski, J. Kowalowski (6). 2B- Price (T), Lawless (M), N. Chase (M). 3B- Brunell (T).