The lights at the Idlewyld diamond went out for the last time this season when Hillsburgh defeated the reigning Intercounty Fastball champion Orangeville Kings 12-4 last Thursday night. More importantly for Hillsburgh the win boosted them past Orangeville to take the best of three semifinal playoff series.

The game three do or die scenario had been set on Tuesday evening when the Kings had rallied from an early deficit for an 8-2 victory.

Joel Presley started on the mound for Orangeville, his third start in a week.

Hillsburgh wasted no time in picking away at Presley, scoring single runs in the top of one and two.

In the third, a single by Adam Reed would make it 3-0 with two out and the bases loaded. Presley served Pete Cargill the perfect pitch. Making no mistake, Cargill caught it on the sweet spot, launching a grand slam homer over the fence in centre right.

In the fourth, they would widen their lead scoring first on a sacrifice fly then up against a full count. Jeff Detta helped his own cause with a home run just inside the foul pole in right.

Infield errors by the Orangeville defence put even more Hillsburgh runners into scoring position. The team cashed in when Shawn Humphrey hit one over the right field fence making the score 12-0 and ending the night for Presley.

Stallions pitcher Detta, someone the Kings have had trouble with all season, stymied the Kings from the get go. After retiring the first nine batters he faced, Orangeville finally managed to start figuring out Detta, putting runners in scoring position on third and second bases before Hillsburgh would retire the side.

In the fifth, with reliever Rick Zeggil on the mound, Orangeville looked to mount a comeback.

Holding Hillsburgh to their first scoreless inning of the night, singles from Greg Hickey, Jeff Donaldson and Don Serre set up Orangeville to regain some lost ground.

RBI singles by Gord Zeggil and Presley broke the shutout while Kent Campbell bounced a triple off the centre field fence to add another pair of runs, making the score 12-4 at the end of five.

For Orangeville, that would be all the offence they could muster.

Hillsburgh added another pair of runs before taking down the final Kings batter, Donaldson. As first to win the game 14-4 they will advance to the Intercounty finals next week against Rockwood.

Orangeville did however, gain some redemption after their loss to Hillsburgh.

Their first place finish atop of the regular season schedule had earned them a place in the Ontario Challenge Cup held in Innerkip over this past weekend.

With a shot at a possible berth to play in the ISC II

Tournament of Champions to be held next year in Appleton Wisconsin, the Kings put in a solid effort, earning then a third place finish overall.

Starting out strong, Orangeville took their first two games by scores of 7-5 over defending tournament champion Kitchener Phoenix Outlaws and then a 2-1 decision against Waterdown in a 10 inning marathon.

In game three, host Innerkip Orioles shutout the Kings 4-0 then it was the Phoenix Outlaws taking a 10-1 final to finish the tournament for Orangeville.

With a number of players retiring this season, the Kings are looking for anyone who might be interested in playing competitive fastball next summer.

For more information on trying out for the team, contact Kent Campbell at (519) 942-8905 or by email, kjcampbell@sympatico.ca.