A slow start on Friday night doomed the Thorold Anchors (8-5) as their five-game win streak was halted at the hands of the first place Beamsville Yellow Jackets (9-1) by the score of 10-7.

The game went sideways before first pitch when the Anchors needed an impromptu starting pitcher. Aidan Schonewille (0-1) stepped up and took the mound with only minutes’ notice but unfortunately did not fair very well in his impromptu first career start.

Schonewille hit leadoff man Tyler Wood and Beamsville proceeded to load bases before Wood would come around to score on a fielder’s choice to make it 1-0. Erik Williston connected on a double to right centrefield that cleared the bases to make it 3-0. A couple of rbi singles from Evan Arnold and Matt Holman later and it was a 5-0 advantage for the Yellow Jackets. Schonewille’s night would be over after surrendering a 2-run home run to George Tsiflikiotis to make it 7-0 Beamsville. Schonewille went a third of an inning giving up seven earned runs on five hits picking up the loss.

Luke Edwards would replace Schonewille and promptly gave up a solo home run to Gabriel Knox to centrefield make the game 8-0. The Anchors were able to get out of the inning with two foul pop outs to third baseman Jacob Turner. The second catch required Turner to make a difficult grab over the high dugout railing to end the inning.

Thorold would chip away at the Beamsville lead in the top of third inning with an rbi groundout from Drew Timlock and a run scored by Jacob Turner when Dylan Dempsey reached on an error by shortstop Evan Stephenson to bring the score to 8-2. Dan Smith would then plate two Anchors with a ground rule double to right field to make the score 8-4.

Beamsville would stretch the lead out to five once again in the fourth with another Gabriel Knox home run, this time to left field. The Yellow Jackets would finish their scoring on the night with a Dave Knaus hit to the outfield that scored Tyler Wood but saw Tyler Rose thrown out at home trying to score from first base on the play to make the score 10-4. Luke Edwards pitched four and two-thirds innings in a bulk role giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits with one walk while striking out one Yellow Jacket.

Thorold threatened the Yellow Jackets’ lead in the sixth inning with two runs courtesy of the first two Anchors reaching base as a result of an error and a walk. Thorold loaded the bases before Beamsville would bring on Tyler Wood from centrefield to pick up his third save of the season. Wood threw one pitch and induced a ground ball off the bat of Drew Timlock to extinguish the Anchors’ rally.

Thorold scored one run in the seventh before Wood struck out the last three Anchors he faced to end the ballgame. Beamsville starter Tyler Rose (4-0) continued his stellar season on the mound pitching five complete innings giving up four runs (one earned) on four hits with two walks while striking out three Anchors. The Yellow Jackets extended their home winning streak to an impressive 32 games with the victory.

Leading the way offensively for Thorold on the night was Dan Smith who went 2 for 4 with 3 rbi and Kevin Hastie who went 2 for 3 with a run scored. Thorold will look to get back in the win column on Tuesday night at home against the Welland Pioneers (4-7). The teams have split their two matchups so far this season with each team winning at home. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30pm.