A win today guarantees the Charlottetown Gahan House Fawcetts a playoff spot at the Canadian senior men’s fastpitch championship in Stratford, Ont.
The Fawcetts split their two games Thursday with teams from Kitchener, Ont., defeating the Outlaws 10-3 in six innings before losing 11-2 in four innings to the Cubs.
Charlottetown is 3-3 entering today with games against Quebec and the defending champion Cheers Pub from Newfoundland.
“Win tomorrow, we’re in, it’s pretty simple,” Mark Arsenault said Thursday. “One more win guarantees us a playoff spot, two more wins might get us double life.”
The Fawcetts play Quebec at 3 p.m. Atlantic before ending the round-robin at the nine-team tournament at 6 p.m. against Cheers Pub, who was undefeated heading into Friday’s night’s game. The Fawcetts would like to punch their ticket to the playoffs in the first game of the day.
“They’re a dangerous team,” Arsenault said of Quebec, who was 0-5 and playing Nova Scotia in a late game last night. “They may not have anything to play for after tonight.”
Seth Hood drove in four runs against the Outlaws Thursday.
Hood, who was the team’s designated hitter for the contest, had a three-run home run as part of Charlottetown’s seven-run third inning that began with a two-out single by Jamie MacDonald.
Right-fielder Peter Mersereau had two doubles with two runs scored and an RBI while Arsenault was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs.
Jamie Shields, Chris Craig, Dustan Jones and Mike Craig also had hits.
Mitch Hardy gave up three runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out 10. He has all three of the Fawcetts’ victories.
Danny Martin took the loss. Kitchener made six errors.
Steve Langley was tagged with the loss against the Cubs. He gave up eight runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out two. Randy Frame allowed three runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings of relief. He struck out three and walked one. Scott Wagar struck out eight in the victory.
Mersereau had a pair of hits while Chris Craig, Jones, Hood and Chris Arsenault each chipped in one.
The Cubs, who hit five home runs, scored in each inning, including five in the bottom of the first. Charlottetown scored its two runs in the fourth.
Arsenault said the strike zone has been tight during the tournament, resulting in more balls in play.
Jeff Ellsworth walked and scored a run for Cheers Pub defeated the Cubs 10-2.