After a high scoring loss last night, the 'Leafs find themselves in a 2 games to none hole. While the Cloverleafs managed to put across 9 runs, it fell short as the Rockets put up a mind boggling 18 runs to beat the 'Leafs at home last night.
The Cloverleafs led 3-1 after the first inning but the Rockets bounced back with 7 runs in the second and 8 more in the third to chase starter Kyle Nixon from the game.
Game 3 goes Friday night in Reston @ 6pm with game 4 back in Brandon on Sunday August 14th. Game time 7pm at Andrews Field.
The Cloverleafs are returning to the league championship finals once again!
By virtue of a 2-1 win tonight over the visiting Oak River Dodgers, the Cloverleafs swept the best of 5 series by a 3-0 margin.
Justin Funk picked up the win by pitching 8 innings and giving up the only Dodger run and allowing 2 hits. Matt Mutcheson earned the save in 1 inning of work. Jeff Neufeld drove in the winning run with an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning while Jason Rae had the other RBI in the first inning. The Dodgers Nolan Snell took the loss for Oak River pitching all 8 innings.
The Cloverleafs await either the Reston Rockets or the Brandon Marlins who were tied a 1 game apiece going into tonights game.
With a 10-5 victory last night, the Cloverleafs drew first blood in Best of Five Semi-Final Series with Oak River Dodgers.
Although the score doesn't indicate it, the game was very close until the bottom of the eighth inning when the 'Leafs put up 5 runs.
Starter, Sean Dryden pitched 7 strong innings and was also recognized yesterday by the MSBL as the pitcher with the most wins in the league this year.
Game 2 is this Friday in Oak River @ 6:30pm with Game 3 back at Andrews Field on Monday, August 1st @ 7pm.
Sean Dryden was named a First Team all-star pitcher for the 2011 season.
Second Team all-stars from the Cloverleafs were: Kyle Nixon, Kevin McNeill, Brandon Lockerby, Garrett Popplestone and Jason Rae.
Congratulations on receiving the well deserved recognition from the league!
With today's win over the Oak River Dodgers, the Cloverleafs have assured themselves of a second place regular season finish.
That means their first playoff round (Best of 5) will be against the Oak River Dodgers starting; Tuesday, July 26th at Andrews Field in Brandon. Game time will be 7pm.
Don't forget, the Cloverleafs Bud Spud and Steak fundraiser is being held on Wednesday, July 27th @ Canad Inns Roadhouse. Tickets are $20 each and are available from any Cloverleaf Player or Executive.
The last few re-scheduled games are now set for the 2011 MSBL regular season. Check our Schedule for date and time changes..
The Cloverleafs play; Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday & Monday to wrap up the regular season. (July 11, 12, 14, 15, 17 & 18) Still lots can happen to the standings in these final 6 games.
All-Star Game has been cancelled. In its place will be a make up game @ Andrews Field vs Reston. (Wednesday June 29th 7pm) Game originally scheduled in Brandon for July 15th is now in Reston.
Game @ Andrews Field against Neepawa that wasn't on the printed league schedule will now be played on Wednesday June 22nd 7pm.
That leaves a game with Brandon Marlins and a game @ Reston yet to be scheduled.
The home game vs Neepawa for May 31st has been re-scheduled to Wednesday, June 22nd @ 7pm!
The Brandon Cloverleafs needed an extra inning to get past the Neepawa Farmers last night by a 5-4 score. They benefited from 2 Farmer errors in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game then Curtis Brolund with a 2 out single drove in Garrett Popplestone for the winning run.
Sean Dryden picked up the win in relief of Justin Funk.
The two teams stranded a combined total of 29 base runners on a chilly evening before a sparse crowd no doubt impacted by game 4 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the opening night of the Summer Fair.
Tonights game @ Brandon Marlins has been cancelled due to rain. No make up date as of yet. Stay tuned to our website for updates. As of right now, Wednesday's game is still on but you never know...
The 2011 Season Home Opener resulted in disappointment for the Cloverleafs. In a rematch of last years championship final, the Rockets spoiled the 'Leafs start at home.
Nothing like putting the arms to the test right out of the gate!
Stay tuned to our website for updates on game dates and reschedules as we had to shuffle the first couple of weeks and still have potentially 2 games to re-schedule against Neepawa and Reston.
Well now that the water is finally receding, we can get ready to play some ball!
First game this Sunday in Oak River @ 2pm.
Another member of the Cloverleaf's outstanding pitching staff has been recognized as the Manitoba Baseball Senior AAA Player of the Year!
Kyle Nixon was presented the award in Winnipeg on Saturday November 20th at the annual Manitoba Baseball awards night! Nixon was recognized earlier by the league as the top pitcher in the MSBL for the 2010 season but his provincial nomination highlighted not only his strong pitching performances during the year but noted some of his offensive exploits as a Designated Hitter and his committment to the team by travelling from his work in Stonewall to Brandon each and every week.
The 'Leafs are thrilled to congratulate Kyle for this well deserved recognition of his skill, contributions and dedication!!
Following the Cloverleafs title win last night, shortstop, Garrett Popplestone (19) was awarded his first Playoff MVP award.
Popplestone cruised through the playoffs with a batting average around .400 but it was his stellar defensive plays that cinched the title of MVP. He covered so much ground at short stop that opposing fans called him a ball hog at times. He routinely made plays usually only reserved for the Sports Centre highlight reel.
Congratulations Garrett on some well deserved recognition.
The Brandon Cloverleafs swept their way through the entire playoffs to earn back to back Championship Titles and their fourth Championship in the last five years. After disposing of their cross town rivals, the Marlins in three straight, the Cloverleafs continued their hot play and swept the pennant winning Rockets in four straight games.
The Cloverleafs starting pitcher, Sean Dryden pitched into the eigth inning and left with a 5-4 lead but it was Kyle Nixon who picked up the win in one and two thirds innings work. In fact, it was Nixon who drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning with a bases loaded 4 pitch walk to score Garrett Popplestone for the win.
The Cloverleafs have taken a commanding 3 games to 0 lead in the best of 7 Championship series with the pennant winning Reston Rockets.
The Cloverleaf's got a strong performance from starter Justin Funk who pitched 7 solid innings, giving up only 3 runs. Offensively, a 5 run outburst in the 5th inning by the Cloverleafs chased the Rocket's starter, Luis Avilia from the game. The Rocket's were unable to recover after that.
Game 4 goes Tuesday night in Brandon at Andrews Field. Game time 7pm.
On the arm of a strong pitching performance by League Pitcher of the Year, Kyle Nixon, the Cloverleaf's have moved in to a 2 games to nil lead the the best of 7 Championship series with the Reston Rockets.
Nixon pitched a complete game shut out last night while the Cloverleaf offence put up 2 runs in the first inning and 2 more in the seventh to run their playoff winning streak to 5 straight. Jamie Hodgson and Kevin McNeill were the offensive heroes with 2 RBI's each.
Game 3 goes Friday August 13th @ 6pm in Reston and Game 4 back at Andrews Field on Sunday August 15th @ 7pm.
Terrific crowd on hand last night with the 50/50 pot of $269.00.
The MSBL has set the dates for the first two games of the Championship Final between the Reston Rockets and the Brandon Cloverleafs.
Game 1 is set for Reston on Sunday August 8th @ 6pm.
Game 2 is set for Brandon on Tuesday, August 10th @ 7pm.
|
As of July 19 |
G | W | L | T | Pts |
| Rockets | 20 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 26 |
| Cloverleafs | 20 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 24 |
| Dodgers | 20 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 20 |
| Marlins | 20 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 16 |
| Farmers | 20 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 14 |
| Date | Time | Away | Home | ||
|
Sunday, May 29, 2011 |
2pm | Cloverleafs 2 | at | Oak River 1 | |
| **Wednesday, June 22, 2011 | 7pm | Neepawa 4 | at | Cloverleafs 2 | |
| **Monday, July 11, 2001 | 7pm | Cloverleafs 3 | at | Oak River 1 | |
| Sunday, June 5, 2011 | 7pm | Reston 4 | at | Cloverleafs 1 | |
| **Monday, July 18, 2011 | 7pm | Cloverleafs 2 | at | Marlins 1 | |
| Wednesday, June 8, 2011 | 7pm | Neepawa 4 | at | Cloverleafs 5 | |
| Saturday June 11, 2011 | 7pm | MB Youth Team 2 | at | Cloverleafs 0 | |
| Tuesday, June 14, 2011 | 7pm | Neepawa 0 | at | Cloverleafs 2 | |
| **Thursday, July 14, 2011 | 7pm | Cloverleafs 7 | at | Reston 12 | |
| Sunday, June 19, 2011 | 7pm | Marlins 4 | at | Cloverleafs 6 | |
| Tuesday, June 21, 2011 | 7pm | Cloverleafs 2 | at | Oak River 3 | |
| Friday, June 24, 2011 | 7pm | Cloverleafs 5 | at | Neepawa 1 | |
| Sunday, June 26, 2011 | 7pm | Oak River 2 | at | Cloverleafs 5 | |
| Tuesday, June 28, 2011 | 7pm | Marlins 2 | at | Cloverleafs 9 | |
| **Wednesday, June 29, 2011 | 7pm | Reston 9 | at | Cloverleafs 4 | |
| Sunday, July 3, 2011 | 7pm | Cloverleafs 7 | at | Marlins 6 | |
| Tuesday, July 5, 2011 | 7pm | Cloverleafs 7 | at | Neepawa 2 | |
| Wednesday, July 6, 2011 | 7pm | Reston 9 | at | Cloverleafs 4 | |
| Tuesday, July 12, 2011 | 7pm | Cloverleafs | at | Marlins | |
|
**Friday, July 15, 2011 **Sunday, July 17, 2011 |
7pm 3pm |
Cloverleafs 7 Oak River 6 |
at at |
Reston 15 Cloverleafs 11 |