Cardinals' top bats sink Tigers in opener

Cardinals win Game 1 9-4 in MVBL Final

In a rematch of last year's Miramichi Valley Baseball League championship series, the Newcastle Cardinals defeated the Chatham Head Tigers in game 1.

The game was played at Memorial Field in Newcastle with a large crowd on hand.  the 50/50 was $1040.

Withthe game tied at 3 in the fourth the Newcastle bats at the top of the order came alive.  Kris Keating started the inning with a solo homer, and two batters later Andrew Burns stroked a two run shot to extend the Cardinal lead.

With the Tigers threatening in the 5th the Cardinals went to the bullpen and it paid immediate benefits when relief pitcher Darren Augustine started a 1-4-3 double play to put out the fire and preserve the lead.

Tigers walked Kris Keating intentionally in the bottom of the 5th to load the bases with two outs rather than pitch to him, but Tom Burns promptly singled up the middle to cash to more runs making it 9-4 which would be the final score.

Game two goes in Chatham head tonight at 7pm and the game will start with a moment of silence for Pat Henry, long time Tiger and member of the Tigers wall of Fame, who recently passed away at the age of 84.