In the first game of the Memorial Day double header, the Boulders shutout the Champions 10-0 behind a gem by starter Justin Topa (2-0). Topa pitched five scoreless innings to pick up the win. Ottawa starter Daniel Cordero (0-1) gave up seven runs in four short innings of work to earn the loss. Earlier in the day, third baseman Cody Regis was named the CanAm Player of the Week and he lived up to the award with a 3-for-3 game that included a walk, a double, three RBIs, three runs scored, and a homerun.
The Boulders started the scoring early in the game with two runs in the bottom of the first. Leadoff hitter Jared McDonald reached base safely after a wild pitch followed by a walk by Dylan Tice. Captain Marcus Nidiffer would drive in McDonald with a single while Regis would notch an RBI single two batters later to bring home Tice.
Regis would strike again in the third inning with a homerun to up the score to 3-0. This was the third baseman’s third straight game with a homerun. The Boulders would then knock Cordero out of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. After a Joe Maloney single and back-to-back walks to Regis and Mike Montville, Jon Smith singled to right field, which scored Maloney from third. On the play, Ottawa right fielder Ardon Chambers, lost his grip on the wet baseball as it hit the grass, allowing Regis to join Maloney across home plate and extend the Boulder lead to five runs.
Southpaw James Mulry came on in relief of Cordero and the Boulders proceeded to add to their lead. Mike Montville hit an RBI groundout to second base and Dylan Tice joined in by hitting an RBI single to center field scoring Smith, making it 7-0.
The Boulders added three more runs in their half of the sixth inning off Mulry. Nidiffer and Maloney led the inning off with a pair of singles and Regis followed with an RBI double to right, scoring Nidiffer. Smith came up with an RBI double to right field, which scored both Maloney and Regis, making it 10-0 Boulders.
Danny Lawrence relieved Topa and pitched two shutout innings in the sixth and seventh. The innings included two double plays turned by the Boulders.
After a dominant first game, Rockland would have the script flipped on them losing 10-2 in the second contest. Starting pitcher Jason Byers (0-2) struggled in his first start of the season giving up four runs in 3.1 innings. Meanwhile, Ottawa starter Austin Chrismon (2-1) pitched well surrendering just two runs, going the distance for the win.
The Boulders got off to another good start by scoring a run in the first inning. After a Dylan Tice base hit, Mike Fransoso singled. Ottawa left fielder Matt Helms would commit an error that would allow Tice to score all the way from first to put Rockland on the board first.
Ottawa would answer back with a solo homerun from center fielder Steve Brown to tie the game. The Boulders would take the lead again in the bottom of the third. After Tice singled again and stole second base, Fransoso would move him to third with a groundout and Marcus Nidiffer would bring him home with a sac fly to make the score 2-1.
The game would quickly go south for the Boulders, as they would give up three more runs in the top of the fourth. Brian Bistagne would work a walk and proceed to steal second and third. Brown would then walk and Rick Oropesa would drive both home on a double. Rockland turned to their bullpen bringing Ethan Elias in to pitch but he could not stop the bleeding. Third baseman Gustavo Pierre would single and a wild pitch brought Oropesa home to up the Champions lead to 4-2.
The Champions would continue to score in the fifth. Adron Chambers led off the inning with a walk, followed by a bunt from Bustagne that Elias would commit an error to keep everyone safe. The next batter Sebastian Boucher grounded out, which allowed the runner to move out. Brown would follow it up with a sac fly bringing Chambers home making the score 5-2.
In the sixth inning with relief pitcher Matt Kostalos on the mound, Pierre led off with a double, Helms walked, and Daniel Bick crushed a ball for a three-run homer to make score 8-2. The Champions continued the onslaught into the seventh. Oropesa would double, followed by a Pierre walk, a Kostalos wild pitch and error by Joe Maloney to bring home two more runs to make the score 10-2.
Maloney gave the Boulders a run with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh but it was not nearly enough as Rockland lost 10-3.
This was the first time the two teams met since the championship series last season in which Ottawa won in five games. The two teams will have an off day tomorrow before meeting again on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. to continue the series. The Boulders move to 10-3 while Ottawa is now 4-7 on the season.