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THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE KITCHENER SELECTS

Ticket Punched to the Finals

Selects vs. Cardinals

Thursday, September 8, 2011

The Selects did just enough to win Thursday night, edging the Cardinals 3-2 in come-from-behind fashion to secure a spot in their second straight KFL Championship series. In eliminating the KFL's top regular season team in two straight games, the Selects doubled the Cardinals' loss total for 2011, as the young squad had entered the semi-finals with a record of 21-2-1 in league play.

It was the Cardinals, however, who struck first in this one. After Bryan Belisle drew a leadoff walk in the top of the third, Dan Lauzon faked a bunt beautifully and dropped a single over third base. After a walk to Justin Krulicki loaded the bases with nobody out, things were looking dire for the Selects. Dan Weber stung a hot shot down the third base line, but Dan Clark made a diving stop and stepped on the bag, as Belisle crossed the plate to make it 1-0. Selects' pitcher Doug Hoffman then struck out the next two batters to escape without further damage. The Cardinals added to their lead the next inning when Justin Clayfield ripped an RBI double that plated Matt Elmes, making it 2-0.

Finally, in the bottom of the fifth, the Selects got to Belisle, who was throwing well for the Cards despite an MCL injury. After singles by Reed Laughlin and Mike Brown and a fielder's choice by Brent Furtney, Glen Hall grounded to short. The throw to first was in the dirt, however, and Brown scored on the error. Then, in a move that showed veteran savvy beyond his years, Furtney caught the defense napping and dashed home to tie the game suddenly, 2-2. That is what the score would remain until the bottom of the seventh when Furtney again provided the heroics, cashing Scott Clark with a game-winning single.

Hoffman was once again rock solid in the win, striking out 12 and allowing two runs on three hits to move to 3-0 with a microscopic 0.95 ERA in the postseason. The Selects remain undefeated in the playoffs, and now await the winner of Monday's Classics-Bell Cartage game to determine their Finals opponent.