Exeter Express

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.”