KITCHENER, ON, CANADA – If the Hill United Chiefs are going to repeat as ISC World Tournament champions, they’re going to have to do it the hard way. Through the losers bracket. The Circle Tap Dukes and pitcher Roman Godoy saw to that by stinging the Chiefs, 3-1, in the semifinals at Peter Hallman Ball Yard late Thursday night.

The win moves Circle Tap (4-0) into Friday nights winners bracket final, while Hill United (3-1) must win three games to reach Saturday’s title game.

Godoy hurled a dandy, and has won all four games for the Denmark, Wis. ball club. His outing against the ISC’s No. 1 ranked Chiefs was his best so far as he allowed five hits, walked four and struck out seven. His only blemish was a bases-loaded walk to Mark Johnson that forced in the Chiefs lone run in the fourth inning. But Godoy escaped disaster by getting Shane Boland on a screaming line drive to first baseman Blair Ezekiel, and James Todhunter to ground out to end the inning.

Manuel Godoy quickly pulled the Dukes even in the bottom of the fourth by blasting an Adam Folkard rise ball deep over the right-field fence. Then in the sixth, Godoy (2-for-3) got the best of Folkard again with a lead-off single, followed by Folkard issuing back-to-back walks to load the bases.

Folkard struck out Zane Vanlieshout for the first out, but then walked Leonardo Latasia to force in the go-ahead run. With the bases still full, Guillermo Patat lifted a fly ball deep enough to centerfield to bring home pinch runner, Julian Fernandez, with the third run. Folkard (3-1) allowed just three hits with 13 strikeouts and six walks.

Boland gave Hill United a glimmer of hope when he led off the seventh by beating out a high chopper in front of the plate. But Godoy bore down, striking out Todhunter, getting Ezekiel to hit into a force out at second base, and finishing off the Chiefs by striking out Nicolas Carril to end the game.

Vist ISC Pointstreak for tournament results.