Last-inning dramatics prevented the defending-champion Windsor Stars from dropping to 0-2 at the Baseball Canada Senior Championship.
Friday afternoon at Citizen Field, the Stars scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh and edged the Halifax Pelham Canadians 2-1. Windsor catcher Tyler Plumpton cracked the game-winning hit -- a hard single to left field -- off Halifax reliever Drandon McKinnon, who had replaced starter Jeff Reeves earlier in the inning.
On Plumpton's hit, teammate Thomas Grubb turned on the jets and scored from second base. For the Stars, the celebration was on, especially because another loss would have seriously damaged their chances to claim their second consecutive Canadian title.
In their Thursday opener, the Stars got a great game out of pitcher Steven Carter but were upset 2-0 by the Prince George Westcana Electric Axemen. On Friday, ace John Picco gave them another gem and the Windsor offence came to life just in time.
"We had a good pitching performance [Thursday] night and didn't really swing the bats," said the 24-year-old Plumpton. "We got another good one today from John so we figured we better score late and battle and get a win. That's pretty big right there."
Picco surrendered four hits and fanned six batters in his seven innings of work.
Reeves (five hits, five strikeouts) was just as strong for the Canadians, who slipped to 0-2 in the tournament.
Also Friday afternoon, the Chatham Ironmen of New Brunswick beat the Strathroy Royals of Ontario 5-2. Chatham improved to 2-0 and Strathroy fell to 0-2.
