Baseball: Stingers Beat Carabins in Tight Pitcher’s Duel

Concordia Beat Montreal 4-2 With Seventh Inning Point Tally.

The Stingers secured a 4-2 win against the Université de Montréal Carabins on Thursday. Photo Nikolas Litzenberger

Concordia Stingers pitcher Jarryd Taylor’s dominant six and two third innings gave the Stinger offence just enough time to explode for four runs in the top of the seventh inning. The Stingers secured a 4-2 win against the Université de Montréal Carabins on Thursday.

Stingers rookie pitcher Jarryd Taylor, who is also a wide receiver on the football team, and Carabins starter Simon Brisebois had shut out their opposition up to the seventh inning. Both pitchers were dominant—the only Stinger to get as far as third base was ultimately stranded while not a single Carabin had even made it to third base under Taylor’s watch.

“He was outstanding,” said Concordia head coach Howie Schwartz of his starter. “The kid’s a quality pitcher, he’s only 18 years old!”

Michael Makarios was the first Stinger up in the top of the seventh inning, and was issued a walk. Roberto Zapata, who had only arrived after the first few innings of the game, came in behind Makarios and promptly hit a single.

With two on and no one out, this was the Stingers best chance of the day.

Shortstop Matthew Litwin was then asked to bunt the runners into scoring position, which he was able to do successfully. Now with runners on second and third with one out, the Stingers were just looking to put a ball in play to give them the lead.

And, they came through.

A hit by Alex Hall saw Concordia take a 1-0 lead—but they weren’t done yet. Before the inning was done, a two-run triple by catcher Dario Vincelli and a single by right-fielder Peter Zidros gave the Stingers a four-run cushion that they would not relinquish.

“We didn’t play a perfect game,” said Schwartz. “We looked anemic at time, but it was good to see them come to life late.”

The Stingers, who now have a record of seven wins and six losses, will wrap up their regular season with a double-header against the Ottawa Gee Gees at Trudeau Park on Saturday. Concordia is in a heated battle with the Carleton Ravens for the right to finish second place, behind McGill. Sweeping Ottawa is a would go a long way towards making that happen.

“From game four [until the present], we’ve been playing great ball,” said Schwartz. “In regards to positioning for the playoffs, it’s nice to have home-field advantage and everything, but I told the guys that we’re playing great ball and we’re gearing up for the playoffs, which is good.”