Corson O’Rourke of the Sydney Sooners, shown during Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League action in Sydney last season, O’Rourke came through with a clutch three-run walk-off triple in the bottom of the seventh to give the host team a 4-3 comeback victory over the Kentville Wildcats in NSSBL semifinal action on Saturday night at the Susan McEachern Memorial Ball Park in Sydney. Photo by JEREMY FRASER/CAPE BRETON POST FILEArticle contentCorson O’Rourke showed why he’s a leading candidate to win a most valuable player award with the Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe Sydney Sooners catcher came through with a clutch three-run walk-off triple in the bottom of the seventh to give the host team a 4-3 comeback victory over the Kentville Wildcats in NSSBL semifinal action on Saturday night at the Susan McEachern Memorial Ball Park in Sydney.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentThe best-of-five series between the two teams is now tied at one apiece after Kentville won a late-afternoon matchup 2-1.Article contentBreton Sibley, Andrew Brewer, Josh Pentecost and Forrest each had a single for the Sooners in the nighttime matchup. Matt Campbell earned an RBI by being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the fourth inning.Article contentFor the Wildcats, Evan Ryan had a double while Shrider and Doug Hassell each had a single.Article contentSooners lefty Garrett Nicholson tossed a complete game, three-hitter to earn the win.Article contentStarter Codey Shrider was tagged with the loss for the Wildcats. He gave up four hits while walking four and striking out three.Article contentOriginally, third-place Sydney and second-place Kentville were scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Saturday and 1:05 p.m. on Sunday at the Susan McEachern Memorial Ball Park, but with rain forecasted for Sunday, the schedule was altered to a Saturday 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. doubleheader.Article contentArticle contentDOUBLEHEADER OPENERArticle contentIn the late-afternoon opener, Wildcats’ Tyson Slauenwhite emerged the winner in a pitchers’ duel with Sooners’ Reilly O’Rourke as Kentville eked out a 2-1 win over Sydney.Article contentSlauenwhite went the distance and only gave up four hits while walking one and striking out four to earn the win for the Wildcats. Sooners right-hander O’Rourke was tagged with the loss despite surrendering just one hit, striking out five and giving up two walks.Article contentO’Rourke walked Wildcats’ leadoff hitter Gehrig Octavio, who then scored after a stolen base, a sacrifice bunt by Shrider and a groundout by Colby Turple to give Kentville a 1-0 lead. The Wildcats then manufactured another run in the second inning on a sacrifice-fly to right by Brent McGinnis to go up 2-0.Article contentSooners’ Brett MacMullin made it 2-1 with a groundout to first in the third inning.Article contentThe series will shift to Memorial Park in Kentville for Games 3 and 4 and, if necessary, Game 5 next Friday and Saturday.Article content
SENIOR BASEBALL PLAYOFFS: Sydney Sooners tie semifinal series versus Kentville Wildcats at a game apiece
