Charlottetown Islanders take 2-0 series lead against Fredericton

Charlottetown Gaudet's Auto Body Islanders pitcher Brody McDonald looks in for a sign in Game 2 of the best-of-seven New Brunswick Senior Baseball League semifinal series against the Fredericton Royals at Memorial Field in Charlottetown on Aug. 31. McDonald pitched six innings of one-run, three-hit ball and earned the win in the Islanders' 6-1 victory for a 2-0 series lead. PHOTO BY BRADY MCQUAID/CHARLOTTETOWN ISLANDERS /The Guardian Pitching has been the name of the game for the Charlottetown Gaudet’s Auto Body Islanders in the first two games of the playoffs. The Islanders defeated the Fredericton Royals 6-1 on Aug. 31 to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven New Brunswick Senior Baseball League semifinal series. Brody McDonald followed up a complete-game effort by fellow southpaw Tanner MacLean in a 6-2 opening-game win in Fredericton on Aug. 30 with a strong start at Memorial Field in Charlottetown. McDonald, coming off working six innings of one-run ball and four hits and no walks while striking out seven in his last start, a 2-0 win against Saskatchewan at the Baseball Canada national senior men’s championship in Miramichi, N.B., on Aug. 21, earned the win in Game 2. He gave up only one run and three hits over six innings of effective work against a potent Fredericton offence. Early lead The Islanders, who are looking to win their fourth NBSBL championship in a row, took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and added on two more runs in the bottom of the third to open up a three-run lead. Simon Dubois recorded three hits and stole a pair of bases to lead the Islanders offensively. Jack Kraft and Dylan Worth each contributed a pair of hits as the Islanders have never trailed in the first two games. Colby Lyle was the pitcher of record for the Royals. Game 3 is scheduled for Royals Field in Fredericton on Sept. 2, with Game 4 back in Charlottetown on Aug. 3. Both games are 8 p.m. starts. Read More Charlottetown Islanders get series-opening win against Fredericton Royals Baseball Islanders product growing through successful livestreams At a glance Schedule for Charlottetown-Fredericton NBSBL playoff series: Best-of-seven semifinal (Charlottetown leads 2-0) Game 1: Aug. 30 – Charlottetown 6 at Fredericton 2. Game 2: Aug. 31 – Fredericton 1 at Charlottetown 6. Game 3: Sept. 2 – Charlottetown at Fredericton, 8 p.m. Game 4: Sept. 3 – Fredericton at Charlottetown. 8 p.m. Game 5, if necessary: Sept. 5 – Charlottetown at…