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The London Majors knocked out the Hamilton Cardinals in four games.
That sets up a heavyweight Intercounty Baseball League semifinal battle with the second-place Barrie Baycats, which was scheduled to start on Thursday night in Barrie.
Game 2 of the best-of-five series is Sunday, 6:05 p.m. at Labatt Park.
Eduardo De Oleo led the third-place Majors with a .471 batting average and a home run against Hamilton. Veteran Byron Reichstein drove in four runs against the Cards.
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Baycats shortstop Brandon Hernandez hit for a sizzling .643 average and 10 RBIs in an opening-round sweep of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Game 3 will be Monday at Barrie’s Vintage Throne Stadium (6:05 p.m.) while Game 4, if necessary, is set for Wednesday, Sept. 4 at Labatt Park (7:35 p.m.). Game 5, if needed, will be back in Barrie Thursday, Sept. 5.
Top-seeded Welland is facing fourth-place Guelph in the other semifinal matchup.
In a Free Press interview on the eve of the playoffs, Majors manager Roop Chanderdat expressed confidence about his team’s championship chances following a 26-16 regular season.
“We’re a team that’s two wins from finishing second (in the regular season),” he said. “We’ve played well all year so we’re right in the mix and that’s all you’ve got to be. If you’re in the mix, you have a chance. So right now we’re in the mix and our goal is to win the championship.”
Chanderdat also addressed the home-field advantage at Labatt Park. “Playing at Labatt Park (and) playing in front of our fans, the atmosphere really brings out the best in our players. But also, we know it brings out the best in the other team.”
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