Series Recap/Game 5 Preview

 

The Thorold Anchors and Niagara Falls Expos will square off in a winner take all Game 5 Tuesday night at 8pm at Welland Stadium to conclude their best of 5 NBDA Senior League semifinal. The Anchors will be designated as the home team by virtue of their second place standing in the regular season. The game was not able to be held at McMillan Park due to the high school football field being installed for the upcoming season.

 

Game 1

 

The Expos took the first game of the series in Thorold last Tuesday on the strength of timely hitting and uncharacteristically poor defense from the Anchors. 

 

Niagara Falls turned to pitcher Dallas Smith in game 1 and he delivered a complete game victory after giving up a couple early runs in the contest. On the night, Smith scattered 11 hits and five earned runs over the seven frames while striking out seven Anchors along the way.

 

Game 1 Box Score

 

                           R  H  E

Niagara Falls     9 10 1

Thorold              5 11 8

 

WP: Dallas Smith

LP: Kyle D’Angela

 

The Expos took a 2-0 stranglehold in the best of five with a comprehensive 14-5 victory on Thursday night led by a balanced attack which featured every member of the team's starting lineup record at least one run scored. 

 

Niagara Falls handed the ball to their workhorse and 2025 league strikeout leader Nick Cook and he delivered six strong innings allowing five runs (two earned) while striking out 13 Anchors on 121 pitches on the evening.

 

Game 2 Box Score

 

                          R  H  E

Niagara Falls   14 11 1

Thorold             5  7  4

 

WP: Nick Cook

LP: Dalton Procyshyn

 

Friday night saw Thorold climb back in the series with a 6-3 victory on the strength of a complete game from Ben Dobrowolski. Dobrowolski scattered 10 hits over the course of the contest while striking out three Expos during his 120 pitches.

 

A key moment occurred in the top of the sixth inning when catcher Dan Krasulja hammered a 3-1 pitch to the right centerfield gap to score three runs to provide the Anchors the final cushion they enjoyed.

 

Game 3 Box Score

 

                         R  H  E

Thorold            6  7  1

Niagara Falls   3 10 3

 

WP: Ben Dobrowolski

LP: Jason Baldinelli

 

Game 4

 

Sunday night saw the Anchors draw even at two games apiece with a 7-3 victory at Oakes Park in Niagara Falls. Thorold handed the ball to Dan Smith who picked up his franchise record seventh win on the season. Smith threw a complete game on just 89 pitches while relying on strong defense behind him as he kept the Expos off balance all night and won the game despite not recording a strikeout.

 

Offensively, Smith also went 2 for 4 at the plate with a double and two runs scored to help his cause.  Max Dobrowolski went 2 for 4 as well with 2 rbi and Dan Krasulja reached base three times and chipped in with 2 rbi.

 

Game 4 Box Score

 

                         R  H  E

Thorold            7 10 3

Niagara Falls   3  7  3

 

WP: Dan Smith

LP: Dallas Smith

 

Thorold is looking to advance to their first Championship Series in franchise history while Niagara Falls is aiming to win their third league title after victories in 2016 and 2019. First pitch is scheduled for 8pm Tuesday night at Welland Stadium. 

 

The winner of Game 5 will advance to the NDBA Senior League Championship Series against the winner of the Beamsville Yellow Jackets-Merritton Alliance series. Beamsville leads that series 2 games to 1 with their Game 4 also taking place Tuesday night. Game 5, if necessary, will take place on Thursday night in Beamsville.