Exeter Express

EXETER – The Exeter Express topped the Ilderton Red Army 5-3 Friday night in Exeter, before dropping a doubleheader against the Strathroy Royals on Saturday.

The weekend was an important set of games for Exeter, who are battling the Royals for top spot in the league. In Friday night’s game Express starter Craig Bate allowed seven singles, three doubles and walked three in a complete game effort.

The southpaw also collected seven strikeouts in the win. Express manager Doug Fairbairn noted due to work commitments it was the first time Bate had taken the mound for the team since early June. “It took him a couple innings to get back in the groove,” said Fairbairn. “Once he got it going he was the same dominant pitcher we’re used to seeing.”

Chris Pfaff led the Express with a single and double and Taylor Patterson added two base hits in the win.

Shawn O’Sullivan also doubled while Brandon Hawke, Conrad Julien, Mitch Masse, Chris Gosnell and Ryan Darling added singles. “Considering we’re battling with Strathroy for first place, this is a big win,” said Fairbairn. “Every win is big.”

For Saturday’s doubleheader against Strathroy the Express were shorthanded, Fairbairn explained, causing players to have to field unfamiliar positions. Exeter dropped the first game 10-2 and allowed four unearned runs in the first inning of Game Two, falling 6-1.

As a result, Exeter’s final game of the season Thursday night against the London Bulls has huge implications for the final standings. “It’s pretty simple,” Fairbairn said. “If we win the game we end up in first place.

If we lose, we drop down to second.” The Express may have a boost to finish the season, as Fairbairn said longtime catcher and number three hitter Bob Grant will return to the Express for the remainder of the season.

“Bob will be playing second and third base and (will) spell Taylor (Patterson) off behind the plate when needed,”

Fairbairn said. “This is a huge addition for us.” Thursday night’s regular season finale will be at 7:30 p.m. at Alvin Willert Field.

By Mac Christie, Times-Advocate Staff

EXETER – The Exeter Express swept a doubleheader over the Strathroy Royals Friday night at Alvin Willert Field.

In Game One the Express were again paced by strong starting pitching as Derek Masse allowed three singles, three walks and struck out six in a complete game victory. “Derek keeps getting better,” Express manager Doug Fairbairn said of Masse’s performance.

Offensively the Express were paced by Chris Pfaff, who collected a single and a double and Conrad Julien, who added two singles. Ryan Darling and Chris Gosnell added singles. “We didn’t have a lot of hits,” Fairbairn summed up, “but we had some clutch hits.” “Shutting out Strathroy is no small feat,” Fairbairn concluded. “They have averaged seven runs per game offensively.” In the nightcap Exeter clawed back for a 6-5 win.

Dan Masse started for the Express in his first action of the season. He allowed three singles, a double and a home run to go along with two walks. Masse struck out three and gave up five runs, three of them earned, in three innings of work. “Due to work commitments this was Dan’s first time on the mound this year,” Fairbairn explained. “Taking into consideration how well Strathroy hits the ball, Dan threw pretty well.”

Terry Hogg came on in relief and allowed a single, a double and a walk the rest of the way. He struck out three in four innings of work to earn the win. “For the second time in the last three games Terry Hogg came on in relief and shut the opposition down,” Fairbairn said. “It’s been a couple of years since Terry has thrown this well. “Since you can never have enough pitching, this is exactly what we need.”

Pfaff again paced the offense with two singles and a double, while Aaron Patterson added two singles. Mitch Masse added a single and a double and Taylor Patterson, Chris Gosnell and Ryan Darling added base hits. “We came back from being down 5-2 in the fourth inning,” Fairbairn said. “This is a great comeback win for us.”

The wins allowed the Express to leapfrog Strathroy in the Southwestern Senior Baseball League standings. Exeter now sits in first place with a 14-2 record.

The Express are next in action Friday night when they host the Ilderton Red Army at 7:30 p.m. at Alvin Willert Field.

TILLSONBURG – The Exeter Express moved to 12-2 in their Southwestern Senior Baseball League (SSBL) season with three wins over the weekend.

The team opened the weekend with a doubleheader in Tillsonburg on Saturday. Riding a strong pitching performance from starter Derek Masse, Exeter took the opener of the twin bill 8-2. “Derek had all of his pitches working and was in complete control of this game,” said Express manager Doug Fairbairn. “Our defence was flawless and it was a good, solid victory.” Masse struck out 11 in his complete game victory, allowing three singles and two walks for two earned runs.

Offensively, Chris Pfaff led the charge with two singles and a double, while Chris Gosnell contributed two singles. Ryan Darling, Mitch Masse, Conrad Julien and Aaron Patterson added singles, while Taylor Patterson doubled.

Offence rolls in 7-1 win In Game Two the Express once again sent Masse to the hill and used four pitchers in a 7-1 win. “Knowing that we were short pitching to get through three games in two days, Derek offered to start the next game as well,” Fairbairn said of Masse. “Derek struck out two, walked two and didn’t give up any runs over three innings.” Masse was relieved by Ryan Darling, who struck out two, gave up two singles and no runs over two innings.

In the sixth, Pfaff came on to pitch, allowing one run over an inning and a third. He struck out two and walked three. Gosnell then recorded the final two outs. “In this game our offence gave us enough of a lead to throw Ryan and Chris, who hadn’t thrown yet,” Fairbairn explained. “In Ryan’s case we found a pitcher who can chew up a few innings for us. “In Chris’s case, he has a strong arm, we just have to work on his control and we’ll have another solid starter.”

Offensively the Express pounded nine hits, led by Aaron Patterson and Mitch Masse with two singles each, Taylor Patterson with a single and a double and Gosnell with a home run. Extra-innings win The Express added their third win of the weekend with a 4-3 extra-innings win over the Ilderton Red Army Sunday afternoon in Ilderton.

Jake Zuc started on the mound for Exeter, giving up three runs, one earned, over seven innings of work. He struck out four, walked five and allowed two singles and a double.

Zuc was relieved by Terry Hogg, who walked one and struck out two over the next three innings to get the extra-innings win. “Jake had a real solid start for us,” Fairbairn said of Zuc. “He was followed by Terry, who threw better than we’ve seen him throw in a couple years.”

Taylor Patterson paced the Express offence in the win, with two singles and a home run, while Shawn O’Sullivan added two singles and Vic Oliveira doubled.

Brandon Hawke, Gosnell and Hogg added singles. “We’re sitting at 12-2,” Fairbairn said of the team. “For the most part we’re playing pretty sound baseball.”

LONDON – The Exeter Express were in action over the weekend in the Lakeside Lizards Senior Baseball tournament in London.

Despite a 2-1 record, due to the tournament’s tie-breaker system the Express ended up in eighth place out of 14 teams. Only the top-six qualified for the final day.

Manager Doug Fairbairn said for the most part it was a positive experience for the Express. “It’s nice to play teams that we don’t typically play against,” he said. “It lets us know we can have positive results against AAA teams.”

Exeter opened the tournament with a 6-5 win over Milton.

Express starter Derek Masse gave up six singles and two doubles, allowing five earned runs for the victory. Masse struck out three to go along with three walks.

Offensively, the Express spread around their offence with nine players recording a hit. Adam Leppington led the charge with a single and a double.

In game two the Express suffered a 17-4 loss to Erindale. While Fairbairn said Exeter had been successful again the team in the past, he noted the game did not go well.

Due to the tournament’s rules, Fairbairn noted even though the score was lopsided, the Express only had minus-five in the tiebreaker. The loss put the team at 1-1 heading into its third game versus Sarnia. “We knew for us to have any chance to play for the championship on Sunday we would have to beat Sarnia,” Fairbairn said.

In Game Three, the Express rode starter Chris Gosnell’s complete game to a 3-1 win. Gosnell scattered four singles and allowed a home run for the only scoring Sarnia managed in the game. He also struck out three.

Aaron Patterson, Dan Masse and Vic Oliveira singled for the Express, while Ryan Darling added a double. “As we did in Game One, we played a solid game against good competition,” Fairbairn said of the win. “Unfortunately for us there were two teams at 3-0 and six teams sitting a 2-1. “Given the tiebreaker system we ended up in eighth place overall.”

The Express are next in action July 13 when they head to Tillsonburg for a doubleheader at 1 p.m.