The Capitales of Quebec will be in the final of the Frontier Baseball League!
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It was thanks to a 5 to 1 victory over the Ottawa Titans in the third and final game of this short series that the Quebec team qualified for the big game, Sunday night, at Stade Canac.
The Quebec club, which is aiming for a first championship in the Frontier League after having been crowned seven times in the past in the Can-Am League (2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2017), should reconnect with the action from Wednesday. Their opponents will be the winners of the other semi-final between the Schaumburg Boomers and the Washington Wild Things.
On this Sunday evening, in front of 2479 spectators, the Quebecer Jonathan Lacroix notably stood out for the Capitals. He opened the scoring first, at the top of the fourth inning, with a solid double. Ruben Castro, who had been hit by the pitcher, scrambled from first base to reach home plate.
Lacroix added it, late in the sixth, with a one-run single, starting an offensive push. The Capitals then scored three times. All manners seemed good to add to the lead: Kyle Crowl took advantage of a passed ball, then Yordan Manduley managed a sacrifice ball to score Castro. This last scenario was repeated at the end of the eighth inning.
In addition to his three points scored, Castro reached the trails four times in as many occasions in this game, also having a stolen base.
A bad bet
In all likelihood, Titans manager Bobby Brown lost his bet when he decided to bring in his ace pitcher Zac Westcott as a reliever. Usually employed as a starter, Westcott was allowed just three days off after pitching seven and two-thirds innings in Wednesday’s playoff win over the New York Boulders. Called to succeed Chris Burica, Westcott gave up three points, including two earned, removing only two opponents during his time on the mound.
Carlos Sano was also the starter for the Capitals on Sunday. In five and a third innings of work, he allowed no runs, despite three hits and six walks. The Titans lacked opportunism early in the game, going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position in the first four innings.
The Capitals won their two home games, Saturday and Sunday, after losing the opening game of the series presented Friday in Ottawa. Remember that Saturday’s game was particularly rich in emotions when the representatives of the Old Capital won 4 to 3 in the 11th round.