CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – The P.E.I. Junior Islanders went 1-3 during a four-game weekend in the New Brunswick Junior Baseball League.
The Isles split their doubleheader Saturday at Memorial Field with the Fredericton Royals while dropping both games Sunday on the road at the Chatham Ironmen. The Islanders are 8-10 and in third place in the five-team circuit.
Saturday
The Islanders defeated the Royals 8-0 before losing 11-3.
Johnny Arsenault pitched a seven-hit shutout as the Islander beat the Fredericton Royals 8-0. Arsenault was in command throughout and struck out six, but escaped an early jam in the top of the first with runners on first and second and no out by getting a diving catch by right-fielder Chasse Gallant and a 4-6-3 double play.
P.E.I. jumped on Fredericton starter Nick Hoyt for four runs in the first on one hit by battling deep in the count and drawing a few full count walks.
The Isles added four more runs against reliever Isaac Edwards in the third.
Connor McGregor and Jayden MacLean each had two-run singles while Kyle Pinksen, Patrick Gallant and Matt Barlow also chipped in hits.
Hoyt had two hits for the Royals.
The Royals turned the tables on the Islanders in Game 2 by jumping to an 8-0 lead after three innings and cruising to victory.
Ty Poole pitched five shutout innings for the win. Isles starter Josh Myers was roughed up for seven runs and P.E.I. sent four relievers (Barlow, Nolan Hicken, Patrick Gallant and Ryne MacIsaac) to the mound to finish the game.
Dan Bertrand was the offensive star for Fredericton with four hits, including two doubles and a home run. Adam Estey also had three hits.
For P.E.I., John Savidant had a three-run double and Jed Noonan, Pinksen, McGregor and MacIsaac each had one hit.
Sunday
Chatham starter Zack Newman handcuffed a shorthanded Islanders lineup, striking out 10 and scattering four hits in a 4-1 victory.
The big blow came in the third inning when Jake Cook smashed a three-run homer off Isles starter Porter Smith. Smith went the distance surrendering six hits and four walks while striking out four.
Pinksen had two hits for P.E.I. and Elijah Hood and Barlow each added one.
Game 2 followed a similar script to the opener as the Ironmen broke open a close game with three runs in the fourth, on the way to another 4-1 victory. Again, the telling blow was a home run, this time a two-run shot by Mike McKay off Isles starter Chandler LaPorte.
Laporte went four innings and Hicken threw two shutout innings of relief. Zach Gosse went the distance for the Ironmen.
Myers had three hits for P.E.I. while MacIsaac had two. Pinksen, Barlow, Gallant and Savidant each had one.
The Islanders are off this weekend, returning to Memorial Field on July 14 to host the Fredericton Royals in a doubleheader.
