18U Knights Take 3 of 4 in Weekend Doubleheaders

OTTAWA, MAY 30 – The 18U Ottawa Knights came within one rough inning of sweeping all four of their Quebec AAA 18U league games on the weekend.

The Knights swept the Laurentides Red Sox 13-5 and 19-3 at home Saturday before travelling to Montreal and splitting a pair with the Orioles. Ottawa lost the opener 3-2 on a sixth-inning Montreal rally, but bounced back to win 8-3 in the second game. That leaves the Knights at 5-3 in league play.

Wes Hoppner led the Knights offence with two homers and 11 RBI during the weekend, while Steve Renaud slammed 10 hits over the four games. Wil McIntyre whacked a homer and went 5-for-8 overall.

Here are some of the weekend highlights, broken down by game:

- Knights 13-Red Sox 5: McIntyre led the offence going 3-for-4 with a homer, double and two RBI, while Hoppner had a homer and single to drive in four runs. Ryan Morrissette added two hits to the 12-hit attack, while on the mound Casey Floyd held the Sox to just six hits, and only allowed one run until the sixth inning.

- Knights 19, Red Sox 3: Ottawa pounded out 12 more hits and touched the Sox staff for 12 walks in this rout. Renaud smacked three hits, scored four times and drove in three runs, while Hoppner was 2-for-3 with his second homer of the day and five RBI. Justin Carpenter added two more hits while leadoff hitter Jake Marko had a hit and four walks, scoring three times. Starter Patrick Derouin allowed just three hits in three innings of work and Dillon James finished up with two scoreless, hitless innings.

- Knights 2, Orioles 3: Ottawa seemed in control of this game until the sixth, when a hit, three walks and a two-run outfield error allowed Montreal to rally for the win. Renaud was 4-for-4 offensively, with Hoppner and Carpenter driving in the two runs. James took the loss, despite allowing just three hits.

- Knights 8, Orioles 3: Coming off the loss, the Knights were not in any mood to fool around in this game, putting it away with seven runs in the first three innings. Renaud, Hoppner, Hammond, Steve Milks and Morrissette all had two-hit games. Milks drove in three runs, including two with a first-inning single. McIntyre started and got the win with four solid innings, while Derouin and Hammond closed out the five-hitter.

The Knights have a big homestand next weekend, hosting two Quebec City squads Saturday at noon and Sunday at 10am at Trillium Park.