TRURO, N.S. – The Truro Bearcats took what appeared to be a secure lead into the ninth inning of Friday night’s game against defending league champions Sydney Sooners.
It wasn’t.
The Bearcats gave up six runs in the top of the ninth to take an 8-5 loss in the Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League contest, played at the TAAC Grounds.
The two teams go at it again today for a double-header. Games are slated for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the TAAC Grounds.
Until the ninth, the Bearcats were on their game. They came out fired up, scoring a run in the first to take a 1-0 lead. Sydney countered with one of their own in the second, but Truro surged ahead in the fourth, plating four runs and showing aggression on the base paths.
From there, with a 5-1 lead, the Bearcats’ Brandon Malally continued his steady performance on the mound while his supporting cast turned in a few defensive gems. Adam MacAloney made a diving catch in left field for the third out in the fifth to snub a Sydney threat. Then in the sixth, with bases loaded, second baseman Matt Mingo knocked down a line shot and flipped the ball to shortstop Jeff Chisholm for the force to get out of a bind.
Sydney put a run across in the seventh to make it 5-2, and Malally gave way to Dan Bates in relief, who pitched two fine innings.
The ninth was the Bearcats’ undoing, however, as some timely Sydney hits, coupled with some defensive miscues allowed the Sooners to push six runs across and take an 8-5 lead, which is how it ended.
Sydney’s Sheldon MacDonald took the win on the mound, Bates was saddled with the loss.
Chisholm led Truro at the plate with a pair of singles, a double and three runs batted in. Justin Palardy had two singles with an RBI, and Jason Smith chipped in with a single and drove in a run.
Cory Christie and Jordan Shepherd paced the Sydney attack with a double and a single each.
The Sooners outhit the Bearcats 11-8. Truro committed four errors to Sydney’s three.
After a win in Kentville Wednesday, their first of the season, the Bearcats go into today’s double-header with a record of 1-10.
