March 29, 1954
Monarchs Shut Down Red Stockings to Capture Wild Card
The Braeland City Monarchs are heading to the playoffs for the first time in 4 years after blanking the Cobourg Red Stockings 5-0 at Kings Park in the Eastern League tie-breaker. The Monarchs now move on to face the Stratford Barons in the Eastern League Pennant Series, while Cobourg returns home as their season abruptly comes to an end.
Cobourg’s LHP Bill Budd and Braeland City’s RHP Okura Suzuki mowed down the respective lineups until the 6th inning, when Budd ran into trouble. In the bottom half with one out, 2B
Patrick Lidgate launched a 2-1 pitch 444 ft into the left-centerfield bleachers for a solo home run to open the scoring. But the Monarchs were not finished. C Hayden Billyard followed with a walk. 1B Dean Witherden then crushed Budd’s first offering 396 ft. into the rightfield bleachers for a two-run shot before the Red Stockings could get out of the inning. The Monarchs had all the runs they would need but tacked on a couple more in the bottom of the 8th. With LHP William Say taking over from Budd, Lidgate led off with a walk and moved over to 3B when Dean Witherden reached 1B safely after CF Raymond Williams mishandled a fly ball. A sac fly by LF John Anthony and a double by SS Natsu Sakei made the score 5-0.
For the Red Stockings, it was a disappointing end to their season and a disappointing effort from their offense. Although they banged out 8 hits, only one was for extra bases (a one-out double by LF Rizalino Ringor in the 4th) and managed to put a runner on 3B just once.
But the win came at a price for the Monarchs. Okura Suzuki injured a hamstring after giving up a lead-off single to 2B Alexander Tolmie in the top of 5th inning. He was forced out of the game and it appears he is unavailable for the duration of the playoffs.
The Monarchs now move on to face the Stratford Barons. Game 1 of the Pennant Series is scheduled for March 31st at Stratford’s Bosworth Field. RHP Lee Corp (8-11, 3.49 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 121 ERA+) is expected to face the Barons’ ace RHP Magtanggol Jaojoco (22-10, 3.18 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 131 ERA+).
