C7

MIKE POWER
Canadaeast News Service

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FREDERICTON - The New Brunswick Senior Baseball League playoffs have seen the worst of the Fredericton Royals this year, but they haven't seen the best yet.

That could be coming.

After a rough couple of games in their semifinal series with the Moncton Mets, the Royals have been getting better since. Tonight, they may have to be at their best.

The Royals host the Chatham Ironmen this evening at 7 p.m. at Royals Field in the third game of the best-of-seven league championship series. It's a game that will determine where the series goes from here.

"We either go back to Chatham up 3-0 which is pretty much insurmountable or leading 2-1, which isn't a big lead," said Royals coach Steve Hicks.

With that in mind, Hicks knows the Ironmen, a pretty persistent, scrappy bunch by reputation, will be coming to town today looking to play desperation, win-at-all-costs baseball.

"Which is pretty much how they always play, especially against us," Hicks said.

"They are the team we love to hate and they feel the same way about us. They never give an inch and we will need to play some pretty good baseball (tonight) to get this win. We will have to be ready to play."

That consistency was an issue in the Moncton series, so much so the Mets were allowed to come back from 3-0 down in the series to win Games 4 and 5 and throw a pretty good fright into the Fredericton team.

"It may have been the best thing that happened to us," Hicks said. "It wasn't good at the time of course, but we needed that jolt. I think since then we have been coming back to where we should be as a team at this time of year. Not all at once, but we've been getting better each time out with the last game just about our best."

Fredericton won Game 2 of the final by a 5-0 score at Ironmen Field in Miramichi. It was a six-hit by pitcher Josh Collins in a park where it's tough to win.

"That was a good effort by the whole team," Hicks said. We were swinging the bats well; we were executing in the field and really cut down on mistakes. Having Josh out on the mound though was ideal. He is so calm out there, he really sets the tone for us."

Pitching should continue to be a major part of the story as the series rolls along. Tonight, the Royals come back with John Burns, the league's best in the regular season. The Ironmen will counter with either veteran Gary Traer or youngster Ryan Barry.

"I think the ball is really in our court," said Hicks. "We have the top pitcher in the league going against their number three guy and we've beaten both of their top two pitchers already (Derek Wilson and Matt Jenkins). If things work out for us we may not have to face the two of them again, we're at an advantage and I don't want our guys to waste it."

Of course Mother Nature might take a hand as well, with rain in the forecast for this evening and Sunday. If that forecast holds true, the durable Wilson might be able to go for Game 3 with Jenkins ready for Game 4.

Game 4 is scheduled Sunday night in Miramichi with a possible fifth game back in Fredericton Tuesday.