Tecumseh Thunder Capture 3rd Straight Ontario Senior Men’s Elimination Title

By Dan Estey
Canadian Baseball Network

The Tecumseh Thunder had another very successful weekend in Windsor capturing their third straight Ontario Senior elimination title running the table with perfect 7-0 record. 

They got their tournament off to a good start with a 10-0 win over the Milton Red Sox. The score does not even come close to indicating how tight this one was as the game was tied 1-1 heading into the top of the sixth inning before Tecumseh turned up the heat on offence. 

Next, came a round two match-up against rivals the Mississauga Southwest Twins. Like game one, this was a tight contest with the game tied 2-2 Tecumseh got four runs in the seventh inning to win going away. 

In round three, Tecumseh locked horns with GTBL powerhouse the East York Bulldogs. This game was an absolute pitcher’s duel with Thunder RHP Chris Horvath going pitch-for-pitch with East York RHP Jake Gallo. When the dust settled, Tecumseh used a two out single up the gut to walk off the Bulldogs 1-0 in one of the best games I have witnessed in a long time. 

On Sunday morning, the Thunder now had a bye based on the tournament tree and were off until Sunday afternoon when they met up with the Strathroy Royals in the undefeated game.

In another very tight, contested game the Tecumseh offense was able to do enough against Royals starter Craig Steadman in getting a 4-2 victory. Jesse Carriere ended up with the win in relief of starter Eric Carducci. 

Now sitting at 4-0, the Thunder pressed on and drew their second matchup in two days against the East York Bulldogs. Tecumseh left no doubt in this one as the defeated the Bulldogs by a score of 11-2 making a winner of LHP Cody Seremack in the process. 

This put the Thunder into the provincial semi-finals against the gritty Niagara Metros. Chris Horvath made his second start of the weekend and he would be opposed by Niagara sidewinder Justin Ayles. Niagara struck first in this one putting up a single run in the first off of Horvath. Tecumseh wasted no time putting up three runs of their own in the top of the second to take a 3-1 lead. After that, both pitchers settled into pretty nice grooves but it was the defense for both teams that was just outstanding highlighted by an outstanding 6-4-3 DP by Niagara with SS Jordan Grant making a highlight reel play up the middle and flipping it to Taylor Anderson and then on to first. 

Niagara managed another run in the fifth to cut the lead to 3-2. In the bottom of the seventh inning, it looked like the Metros we’re going to go into the sun quietly with Horvath getting the first two batters of the inning but Niagara started to mount a rally. Veteran backstop Jono Marcheterre singled to center followed by a walk. With two on and two outs Chris “Chico” Anderi stepped to the plate already with an RBI in the game. On the third pitch of the at bat, he tried to lay down a bunt but Horvath was up to the task fielding the ball and getting Anderi by half a step at first to end the game with a 3-2 Thunder victory. 

Tecumseh would now face the Strathroy Royals for the second time in two days in the provincial finals with the Thunder needing to be defeated twice. Joel Pierce was named the starter for this one; making his second start of the weekend. The Royals put up a great fight in this one as starter Jeff Loveys did what he could to hold down the potent Thunder offense but in the end it was too much as Pierce threw a complete game and Tecumseh walked away with a hard fought 4-2 victory and a trip to the Canadian Senior nationals in Fredericton, New Brunswick. 

Because team Saskatchewan had to back out of this year’s event Strathroy was also awarded a spot in the tournament as the Ontario No. 2 team. The Canadians will be taking place Aug. 25-29 at Royals and Thompson Fields in Fredericton.