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ISC II Ontario

After winning the Eastern Canada Area Qualifier in Innerkip, the GHFL's Niagara Snappers competed at the 2005 ISC II Tournament of Champions in  Chippewa Falls, WI.

The Snappers final round robin game vs Hermann, MO Black Gold was called by most the "game of the tournament." Click here for the line score. Facing Black Gold pitcher Eric Steinbeck, who was named to both the 2004 and 2005 ISC II All-Tournament Teams, the Snappers eventually prevailed 3-2 in 11 innings, but it was a struggle. The Snappers' bats, which carried them to six tournament victories in 2005, were quiet. In fact, Steinbeck would strike out a tournament high 18 batters, and hold Niagara scoreless through nine complete innings before Kevin Newhouse swatted a two-run home run in the top of the 10th inning.

Snapper starter Byron Demoe matched Steinbeck zero for zero, throwing a no-hitter for nine innings. In the bottom of the 10th, a run-scoring triple by Brett Israelson and an RBI-double by Steinbeck marked the end of the line for Demoe and tied the game at two. Tim Neill would strand Steinbeck as the potential winning run at third and pick up the win, working a scoreless 11th inning.

In the top of the 11th inning, with Peter Dobbin starting at second base as per the international tie-breaker rule, Jarrod Burtt sacrificed Dobbin to third and set up the play pictured below. Snapper coach Jay Paylove called for Mike Bateman to execute a squeeze bunt.

Click on each photo to see it full size.

All photos courtesy of Robin Wilson, Aerial Promotions. More photos by Robin can be viewed here.