This Canada Day game between the Spartans and Brickies will be talked about by Spartans fans for years to come. Does this game really mean anything in the standings? No, not really. Other than putting the Spartans into a tie for second place. But does it mean something to the Spartans to beat the league champions? Absolutely.  

  In the bottom of the first Oswaldo Alvarez smashed a ball so deep I'm surprised the homeowner didn't come outside to see who knocked on the door. 2-0 Brickies. 

 The bottom of the next inning -same thing: a two run shot by big Oz.  4-0 Brickies.  Things were looking good for the men in red. The depth of the Brickie's hitting has always been a strength for them, If one player is cold there's sure to be one who's hot and today it was Alvarez. However that's all the Brickies would get on this day.  Once Spartan's starting pitcher Owen Mcdonald left the game after three gutsy innings Marty Patience came in to throw a couple and even though he put some men on base he got the job done with his hard to hit curveball. 

  When Andrew Fuller came in to pitch for the Brickies it was an opportunity for the Spartans to get back in the game and they made good with that plan, a three run shot by Marty Patience, (who flirted with retirement this season)  got them back in the game. And the next inning it was call up Adam Stewart who crushed a ball deep to put the game at 5-4 Spartans. At this point there was guarded optimism that the Spartans could do the unlikely.  But two things would have to happen-  They'd have to keep the heavy hitting Brickies from getting another run over the final 3 innings and they'd need some run support.  But with smoke throwing Snow coming back in the game it was far from a certainty. 
 

  Well, first on the menu, Owen came back in and looked rejuvenated as he didn't give up another run with some help in the field from Adam Stewart a high level slow pitch player, and banged up Marty Patience.  Second on the menu, try to get a run off of Snow. Well they got it, and then some. TJ McCann led off with a single, followed by a hard earned double from last year's slugger of the year Braunstein and with two men on Marty 'Clutch' Patience stepped to the plate and hit a jaw dropper; a beautifully hit centre field home run. 8-4 Brickies. Wow.  Helluva hit for a guy having a helluva season.

  McDonald came back in and got the win with a clever series of pitches to strike out  last year's hitter of  the year, Andrew Fuller, who has yet to get on track this season at the plate  but undoubtedly will.  It was a game that will go a long way in giving the Spartans belief that they can compete for a championship this year. The Brickies have dropped a couple games recently but they are the deepest team in Burby and are still considered by most to be the team to beat. But seeing some teams give them a challenge is good for the league as I'm sure even  league commissioner and Brickies veteran Adrian Golombek would attest to.  But the Spartans will enjoy this one for a while.  A character building win for a  scrappy team.   

  Special note- Star lefty pitcher Egan Tormey of the Rail Hawks, (the last team to beat the Brickies) came to take in this steamy matchup at the 'Hood.  

  Always good to have some fans at the game, even if they're rivals!

    PB