Long Ball Carries #1 Hill United Chiefs over #4 Bear Creek Express at Kitchener

On a crisp Saturday morning, June 28, 2025, at 11:00 AM ET, the top-ranked Hill United Chiefs, holding the #1 spot in the ISC Fastpitch 2025 Pre-Season rankings, faced off against the #4-ranked Bear Creek Express in a thrilling fastpitch softball final. The Chiefs showcased their elite status with a commanding 4-1 victory, driven by three home runs, stellar pitching, and airtight defense. Here’s how the game unfolded in an electrifying two hours of action.

Early Tension: Bear Creek Strikes First

The game began with both teams settling in. In the top of the 1st, Bear Creek Express pitcher S Cleary set the tone, retiring the Chiefs’ first three batters. S Boland popped out to second baseman T Sebastian, B Ezekiel struck out looking, and N Shailes flew out to center fielder C Beashel, keeping the scoreboard clean.

The #4-ranked Bear Creek Express struck first in the bottom of the 1st. C Beashel grounded out, but M Roy drew a walk off Chiefs’ starter M Gonzalez. T Sebastian then laced a double to center, advancing M Roy to third. With one out, L Pinto delivered a sacrifice fly, scoring M Roy to give the Express a 1-0 lead. D Galeno popped out to end the inning, but the Express had drawn first blood.

Chiefs Fight Back: Patience and Power

The #1-ranked Hill United Chiefs responded in the top of the 2nd. B Motroni singled sharply to left, and Q Bruce followed with a ground-ball single, putting runners on first and second. T Gonzalez was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with no outs. However, S Cleary buckled down, inducing a strikeout from P Lopez and a double play from A Peker, keeping the Chiefs off the board.

The Express couldn’t capitalize in their half of the 2nd, as A Salgado walked but was stranded after D Cunningham struck out, D Jaluska flew out, and Y Davis grounded into a fielder’s choice, with T Gonzalez to S Boland making the play.

The Turning Point: Chiefs Unleash the Long Ball

The game’s momentum shifted in the top of the 4th. After a quiet 3rd inning where S Boland walked and B Ezekiel singled but were stranded on a double play, Q Bruce stepped up with a game-changing swing. He crushed a solo home run to left field off S Cleary, tying the score at 1-1. T Gonzalez followed with a single, but another double play by P Lopez and a strikeout by N White kept the game knotted.

In the top of the 5th, the Chiefs’ bats erupted again. S Boland led off with a single, and B Ezekiel launched a towering two-run homer to center, scoring S Boland and giving the Chiefs a 3-1 lead. N Shailes flew out, but B Motroni walked, though he was later caught out at third on a base-running miscue, ending the inning.

Chiefs Seal the Deal

The top of the 6th saw T Gonzalez cement his impact, blasting a solo home run to center, extending the Chiefs’ lead to 4-1. K Ezekiel, pinch-hitting for P Lopez, grounded out, and A Peker and B Hunter (batting for N White) struck out, but the damage was done.

On the mound, M Gonzalez had kept the Express in check through four innings, allowing just one run on two hits. In the 5th, M Diaz took over in relief and was lights-out, striking out D Jaluska and Y Davis and inducing a groundout from C Beashel. The 6th was more of the same, with M Roy and L Pinto striking out and T Sebastian grounding out.

Bear Creek’s Last Stand

In the bottom of the 7th, the Bear Creek Express made a final push. C Pannebecker singled, but A Salgado grounded into a double play, with S Boland to T Gonzalez to P Lopez making quick work. D Cunningham struck out looking against M Diaz, sealing the 4-1 victory for the Chiefs.

Standout Performances

The Hill United Chiefs, living up to their #1 ranking, showcased a balanced attack:

• Q Bruce was a force, going 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI, sparking the offense.
• B Ezekiel delivered the game’s biggest blow, a 2-for-4 day with a two-run homer.
• T Gonzalez went 2-for-2, including a homer and an RBI, while also getting hit by a pitch.
• M Diaz was untouchable in relief, throwing three scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

For the #4-ranked Bear Creek Express, T Sebastian (1-for-3, double) and M Roy (walk, run scored) provided sparks, but the offense couldn’t sustain momentum. S Cleary pitched valiantly, allowing four runs over six innings, while C Osicka closed with a scoreless 7th, striking out three.

Final Thoughts

The Hill United Chiefs proved why they’re the #1 team in the ISC Fastpitch 2025 Pre-Season rankings, combining timely hitting, power, and stellar pitching to secure a 4-1 win over the #4-ranked Bear Creek Express. The Express fought hard but couldn’t overcome the Chiefs’ relentless offense and airtight defense, which turned three double plays. This game was a testament to the Chiefs’ depth and dominance, setting the stage for more thrilling matchups in the season ahead.

For more fastpitch action, keep an eye on these top-tier teams as they continue their campaigns!