ST. CROIX, N.S. — The East Hants Mastodons knew what they had to do Aug. 31 to secure double life for the playoff round in the Canadian Sr. Men’s Softball Fast Pitch Championships and they did just that.
Under the Friday bright lights at the St. Croix Recreational Centre, and before a sizeable crowd, the Mastodons took on the Summerside Eagles, from Prince Edward Island. They fell behind 3-1 as the third inning began, but an explosive home half saw them score four runs to go in front 5-3. They didn’t relinquish their lead, taking the game 8-3.
Nick Shailes, one of the Mastodons import players, is a native of Australia and considered by experts to be one of the top five players in the world. He crushed a three-run homer to deep centre to assist his club while also collecting four RBIs.
Donnelly Archibald, who pitched the final four innings and picked up the win, also tripled. Travis Nevin started for the Mastodons.
Newfoundland, British Columbia, The Mastodons and the Grand Prairie team from Alberta were the top four finishers and have all earned double life, meaning they must lose two games Sept. 1 or Sept. 2 before being eliminated.
East Hants, who picked up an earlier 7-1 win over Elmira, Ontario on Friday, will now play the Sooke Loggers, from British Columbia, at noon Sept. 1. It will all depend on whether they win or lose as to when their next game would be. The Loggers defeated East Hants 8-3 on the opening day of the tournament.
