The Rockland Boulders clinched the 2015 Can-Am League regular season championship with a 19-3 victory over the Ottawa Champions Wednesday night. The Boulders also won the pennant last season, ironically also on Sept. 2.
Rockland began the game with seven runs in the first inning. Twelve Boulders came to the plate and registered four walks and three hits. The biggest hit of the inning was Junior Arrojo's two-run single.
The Boulders piled on another six runs in the third inning. Charlie Law drilled a three-run double, and Marcus Nidiffer connected on his league-leading 22nd home run with a two-run shot to left.
Rockland was back at it again the following inning and scored four more runs on three hits. Nidiffer, Alex DeBellis and Giuseppe Papaccio each recorded RBI base hits.
Ottawa got on the board with three runs in the fifth inning. Sebastian Boucher blasted a two-run homer.
The Boulders added to their lead with a pair of runs in the sixth on a double by Papaccio, who led the way with five RBI.
Nidiffer drove in four runs to bring his Can-Am league-leading total to 92. He now owns sole possession of the Boulders' single-season RBI record. Law contributed three RBI of his own.
Jared McDonald extended his Can-Am League record for consecutive games reaching base to 56. He finished with one hit, one RBI and two runs scored, tying the Boulders single-season record for hits with 120.
Rockland starter Bo Budkevics (5-4) earned the victory with a seven-inning performance. He allowed three runs on nine hits and struck out nine. For Ottawa, starter Nate Baker (1-3) lasted just .2 inning and yielded seven runs (one earned).
The Boulders (59-33) are set to continue their series with the Champions (45-46) Thursday night at 7 p.m. at home.
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