The Brampton Royals opened their 2023 COBA Major League this past week with a pair of games. They opened their week at "home" as they hosted the defending COBA Major Champion Etobicoke Rangers at the Teramoto Yellow Diamond. The Royals will be playing the ifrst part of their home games out of Teramoto Yellow as Dave Dash Memorial Field undergoes a major renovation but should be ready to go in early July. 

 

This one opened as a slugfest between the two teams as the Rangers plated 12 runs and the Royals seven runs in the first three innings of play. Both teams traded runs in the 4th frame before Etobicoke really broke open the game with seven runs in the 6th inning. The Rangers would take this game by a score of 20-8 in eight innings. 

 

Joe Ferreira led the Brampton offense going 3-for-3 with a pair of home runs, a walk, three runs and five RBIs. Dawson Fascia was 1-for-3 with an RBI while Sam Lebel was 1-for-4 with a run and a pair of RBIs. Alex Fascia was 1-for-3 with a run while VIc Speciale and Keegan Murphy were both 1-for-3 with a walk to round out the offense. Dan Franceschetti was 3-for-4 with a pair of HRs, a double, three runs and five RBIs to lead the Etobicoke attack. Michael Ferracuti also had a big night going 3-for-5 with two HRs, a walk, two runs and five RBIs. 

 

On the mound, Arman Lakhani started and took the loss. He tossed 2 1/3 innings allowing 12 runs (all earned) 12 hits. He hit on batter, walked four and struck out five in his outing. Myles Swartz followed him to the mound and also went 2 1/3 innings allowing seven runs (all earned) on seven hits. He walked two batters and struck out five. Ferreira finished up the last 1 1/3 innings allowing a single run (earned) on two hits. He walked one and struck out five Ranger batters. Max Skoropadsky started for Etobicoke and got the win. 

 

The Royals didn't have much time to dwell on the loss as they hit the road the next day for a game at Nelson Park against the Burlington Brants. Brampton got on the board with a run in the top of the 1st inning and an early 1-0 lead. The Royals would add another run in the 4th inning to take a 2-0 lead. The lead would be short lived though as the Brants would get a run in the bottom of that frame followed by two more runs in the 5th inning to take a 3-2 lead. 

 

Brampton would answer back with a pair of runs in the top of the 6th inning and take a 4-3 lead but, again, the Brants would answer back with a run in the bottom half of the frame to tie the game 4-4. The teams would trade runs in the 7th inning before the Royals would add another run on the top of the 8th inning to regain the lead 6-5. Brampton would tack on five more runs in the 9th inning to take an 11-5 lead. Burlington would add two runs in the home half of the frame but would drop this game by a score of 11-7.

 

Alex Fascia had a big game for the Royals going 4-for-4 with a triple, a double, a walk, an HBP, three runs, and RBI and two stolen bases. Caleb Chramow was the only other Brampton player with a multi-hit game going 2-for-5 with a double, a walk, a pair of RBIs and a stolen base. Dylan Langlois was 1-for-5 with a run and an RBI while Joe Ferreira was 1-for-3 with three walks and an RBI. 

 

Dawson Fascia was 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, an HBP, two runs and a stolen base while Aiden Cowper was 1-for-3 with a double, a pair of walks and two runs. Sam Lebel was 1-for-5 with a double, a walk, a run and three RBI while Aidan Murphy wrapped up the Royals offense going 1-for-6 with a run and an RBI

 

Matt Stoddart drew the starting assignment for Brampton going four innings allowing one run (unearned) on just two hits. He hit two batters, walked one while striking out eight in picking up a no decision. Alex Emerson followed Stoddart to the mound tossing three innings allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits. He walked three batters while striking out one. 

 

Aidan Murphy came in to throw the last two innings and was the beneficary of the late offensive spurt by the Royals to pick up the win. He allowed two runs (both earned) on two hits. He walked three batters while striking out five Burlington batters. Cam Ryerson, the 5th of five hurlers for the Brants, took the loss on the hill. 

 

Here are the rest of the scores from a busy Week II of the COBA Major League season:

 

Monday, May 15th

Oakville A's - 13

Erindale Cardinals - 13

 

Tuesday, May 16th

Etobicoke Rangers - 20

Brampton Royals - 8

WP - Mark Skoropadsky; LP - Arman Lahkani

HR - Michael Ferracuti 2, Dan Franceschetti 2 (Etob); Joe Ferreira 2 (Bram)

 

Wednesday, May 17th

Brampton Royals - 11

Burlington Brants - 7

WP - Aidan Murphy; LP - Cam Ryerson

 

Friday, May 19th

Milton Red Sox - 10

Etobicoke Rangers - 16

WP - Andrew Hyde; LP - Joe Giansante

 

Erindale Cardinals - 15

Oakville A's - 1

WP - Eric Alcaraz; LP - Chris Bowles 

HR - Andrew Mullin (Erin)