Almost there

The Belfast Northstars may have had to work a little harder than anticipated this past weekend to advance to the All-Ireland final but that is testament to a single truth – the Ashbourne Giants are for real.

Since the Hydebank baseball and softball facility opened earlier in the year, the Stars have been relatively with the weather but Sunday saw a reversion to type just as the players had applied the first layer of suntan lotion.

The Northstars would send right hander Colin Woods to the mound in the first just as the rain had started to fall; Ashbourne countered with Sean Mitchell. Both offenses started tentatively with Woods and Mitchell leading their respective teams well from the hill but it would be the visitors who blinked first, the Northstars showing a rarely seen small ball offence to generate their first score in the third inning, Colin Woods' effort up the first base line allowing brother Melvin to get home from third base.

Responding to the threat, Mitchell took matters into his own hands in the next with a bases clearing double to deep left centre that gave his young charges a 4-1 lead. It would be one they would not relinquish in the morning tilt.

Sliding to the opposite side of the rubber, Melvin Woods took the ball in the fifth in an attempt to lead the Northstars back. A quick 3 up 3 down inning for the lefty gave his team a lift, Sean McMahon running agressively to allow Woods to drive him home.

Unfortunately for the home side, the visitors showed poise and patience, adding two more runs in the sixth taking the game out of reach; 6-2 the final.

And the rain fell harder.

But this Northstars team is resilient if nothing else; returning to Hydebank after a cricket-style break for lunch, Shackleys team had a quiet focus that showed they were ready for a battle. With Melvin Woods taking the start in the decider, an Ashbourne baserunner was left stranded; it would be a common occurrence over the next few innings.

Chris Shields would lead off the bottom of the inning with a walk and was quickly joined by McMahon on the basepads. Melvin Woods would strike a long fly ball and, although caught, was deep enough for Shields to tag up and get safely home.

With McMahon twitchy at third, Randy Cornwell drew a bad throw as he moved from first to second. McMahon needed no second ask as he broke for home. Cornwell and Gord Cuthbert also scored in the inning, giving the Stars a 4-0 lead moving into the second inning.

With no score from the Giants, McMahon took his second hit by pitch of the day (and his career, look out Jason Scott). Having the green light to run, the speedy shortstop took second and was again brought home by Melvin Woods. Belfast would then show great plate discipline, loading up the bases and even walking some runs in.

A pitching change for Ashbourne at 8-0 did little to improve the visitors' fortunes, a walk from Shields getting Stephen Hunter home. Hits by McMahon, Cornwell and Gord Cuthbert extended the lead to 13-0 and, with his work done for the day, Melvin Woods handed the ball off to Randy Cornwell. The Giants continued to fight, challenging the right hander and even to the last inning when, after a tough charging out by Cuthbert, they managed to load the bases with two outs, Cornwell dug in and finished off the shutout, 16-0 the final.

The Northstars now look south, knowing full well that a dangerous and talented Dublin City Hurricanes will be making the trip north this weekend to Hydebank. Any lack of concentration will be punished as the final hurdle approaches.