It was a successful 70’s Night for the Thorold Anchors (4-4) as they exploded for a franchise record tying 11-run inning in the bottom of first on Tuesday night in what set the stage for a comprehensive 21-9 victory over the St. Catharines Cobras (3-3-1).

The Cobras started the game strong in the top of the first inning off of starting pitcher Dan Smith (2-1) with runs batted in by Drew Billard and Nick Sousa. Sousa, however, was cut down at second base trying to stretch a single into a double when right fielder Tony Brown made a solid defensive effort to gun down the runner at second base on a perfect relay from second baseman Adam Bartlett to shortstop Dalton Procyshyn. 

In the bottom half of the first inning is when the Anchors’ offense took flight by sending 17 men to the plate highlighted by a 2-run single by Dylan Dempsey, and rbi singles by Drew Timlock and Tony Brown. Starter Jackson Heculuck (0-1) ended up taking the loss lasting only one third of an inning allowing eight earned runs, walking six and striking out one.

St. Catharines would venture to make a game of it after facing an 11-2 deficit after the first inning. The Cobras chipped away at the lead with a 2-run home run by Sousa in the third inning and four bases loaded walks off of reliever Nick Koenigsberger in the fourth to bring the score to 11-8 before Luke Edwards would earn the hold by striking out Joey Bowman to end the fourth.

Thorold would stem the tide though by tacking on two runs in the fifth with runs batted in from Tony Brown and Kevin Hastie to bring the lead back to five at 13-8.

The Cobras threatened again in the sixth inning scoring one but leaving two men on base as Justin Vescio-West came on in relief and picked up his second career Anchors save.

St. Catharines walked the bases loaded to start the bottom of the sixth inning which prompted the Cobras to attempt to play the infield in to limit Thorold from stretching the lead from four. However, on three different occasions St. Catharines would get the ground balls they were looking for but were unable to get any outs at home as catcher Nick Sousa was left out to dry with late and inaccurate throws. Thorold ultimately ended the game in the bottom of the sixth inning by scoring eight runs to trigger the mercy rule of being ahead by 12 runs at the end of the inning.

Dan Smith picked up the win pitching three and two-thirds innings, giving up five hits, seven runs (six earned), walking four, and striking out one Cobra. Offensively, all eleven Anchors that entered the game would score at least one run. Catcher Dylan Dempsey filled the stat sheet reaching base five times while scoring four times with three hits and recording three runs batted in with a stolen base.

St. Catharines actually outhit the Anchors in the game seven to six but the combined 21 free bases (walks and hit by pitches) would sink the Cobras Tuesday night.

The win vaults Thorold into third place in the standings a third of the way into the season. Furthermore, Thorold improves their home record at The Shipyard to 3-2. The 21 runs scored by the Anchors is a franchise record besting the previous mark of 16 set last season against the Fort Erie Cannons. Additionally, the 11 runs scored in the first inning tied the previous record mark set last season against the Niagara Falls Expos. The Thorold Anchors will travel to face those same first place Niagara Falls Expos (7-1-1) on Friday night at Oakes Park with the first pitch scheduled for 7:30pm.