Waiting game for Wildcats

BY JOHN DECOSTE

Kings County Register

The Kentville Wildcats can still mathematically finish third in the Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League standings, but they’ll need help from three other teams to do it.

The Sydney Sooners did the Wildcats a favour on the weekend, taking two of three games from Truro (the three games Truro had in hand over Kentville). The Sooners won 4-3 and 12-11 August 9 before Truro salvaged August 10’s series finale by a 5-4 score in 10 innings.

At the start of the week, Truro (12-14) held a game-and-a-half lead over Kentville (11-16) in the race for third place.

The Bearcats had three regular season games remaining – two at home, against Kentville and Dartmouth, and one on the road in Halifax. The Wildcats are scheduled to play Friday evening in Truro and Sunday afternoon in Halifax.

In order to finish third, Kentville needs to win both of its remaining games - and hope the Bearcats lose all three of theirs.

If the two teams were to finish with identical records (either 13-16 or 12-17), Truro gets the nod by virtue of winning the season series. Entering their final meeting of the season on Friday, Truro had won four of five games from Kentville.

The team that ends up in fourth place will have the unenviable task of meeting powerful Dartmouth in the opening round of the playoffs.

There is added incentive for making it to the league final this year. With Dartmouth hosting nationals in 2009, the NSSBL will have two representatives at the tournament.

Ironically, Kentville has played Dartmouth as tough as anyone this season. The Moosehead Dry won five of six games, but three of their wins (as well as the Kentville win) were all by a single run.