Stars fend off Spartans: qualify for postseason

At a windswept Henry Jones’ Field, the Belfast Northstars ‘A’ team locked themselves into a playoff berth for the 2014 season.

With the ‘B’ team safely planning for September baseball, there was additional pressure on the first string with only three games remaining on their schedule this summer. Mark Smith took the hill in the first game knowing that conditions would not lend themselves to high quality baseball.

He would take a no-hitter into the fifth.

Even though the no-no was gone and the Spartans would load the bases, Smith would work his way out of the jam without allowing a run to plate. Thanks to even run support from up and down the order, the Stars held off the attempted comeback and the game would be called at 11-0; a notable highlight being coach Jon Carter stealing home.

With Carter pitching the second, the Stars would jump to a quick 3-0 lead, before allowing the Dublin side to scrap back. With a tight hamstring forcing Carter out of the game in the fourth, Gord Cuthbert would keep a determined Spartans team at bay. Timely hitting and savvy baserunning would tack on another seven runs for the home side and despite three stoppages for heavy rain, Cuthbert kept his focus, held his nerve and completed a memorable day’s baseball at the Hank.

‘Making the playoffs is never a mean feat, to get both A and B teams in is a fantastic achievement. We have been lucky this year with the rookies that have come in, everyone has contributed well and has worked hard since the first training session in January. It’s a credit to coaches Carter and Santos that the club is thriving at the minute but there is still work to be done’ said Belfast GM Neil Boyd.