Royals spoil Barnstormers’ playoff debut

GUELPH – Andy Leader homered and drove in four, and Evan Grills struck out 11 in a complete-game effort as Guelph spoiled Chatham-Kent’s playoff debut with a 14-2 win at David E. Hastings Stadium on Friday night.

Carson Burns and Ashton Patterson each drove in two for the fourth-place Royals, who lead the best-of-five series 1-0. Ethan Hammond had an RBI, J.D. Williams singled twice and scored three runs, Garrett Takamatsu went 2-for-4 and Conner Morro scored three times.

Grills (1-0) scattered eight hits and was two outs from a shutout until Lee Kucera scored on a wild pitch and Torrin Vaselenak doubled home Jalen Butcher in the ninth inning.

Spencer Marcus and Robert Mackie each had a pair of hits in the loss. Eric Pettipiece (0-1) took the loss after allowing six runs (four earned) on four hits and two walks in 1.2 innings.