June 20, 2023

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

It was an all Mississauga Tigers final in the Connie Mack qualifier tournament at Meadowvale Park.

And guess what?

The Mississauga Tigers 18U, coached by Greg Byron, scored an 8-6 win over the Mississauga Tigers 22U. By winning the six-team tournament, Byron’s team is off to the Connie Mack championship in Farmington, N.M.

3B Stefan Di Corrado (North York, Ont.) and CF David Stanley (Toronto, Ont.) provided the offence, while RP Nathan Ayles (Mississauga, Ont.) had a scoreless outing.

Di Corrado hit a run-scoring double to right field and earlier a double to the 341 sign in right centre, while Stanley earned player of the game going 2-for-2, knocking in a pair.

Ayles pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings with one strikeout to be named pitcher of the game.

C Anderson Fenwick (Mississauga, Ont.) singled in a run and LF Elijah Williams (Brampton, Ont.) singled to left, while SS Thomas Hanger (Toronto, Ont.) made a diving play in the field.

The win avenged an earlier 17-4 loss to the 22U.

As for the other dugout ... LF James Markham (Mississauga, Ont.) hit a two-run double to centre, 1B Seth Hedges (Ingersoll, Ont.) doubled and singled, while DH Tyler McDonald (Mississauga, Ont.) and CF Jason Zhang (Mississauga, Ont.) each singled.

RHP Nate (Diesel) Petropoulos (Milton, Ont.) had an impressive outing.

Mississauga coach Ryan Asis helped set up the tourney after the Florida qualifier fell through. It is the first Connie Mack tournament we’ve seen since the Ottawa-Nepean Canadians used to battle the Brockville Bunnies for a berth in the Atlantic regionals in the 1970s.

In other games ...

_ Chris Dawidow (Acton, Ont.) was 2-for-3, with a homer and three RBIs as The Tigers 22U won in a walk, thanks to Jacob Berney (Mississauga, Ont.) pitching six innings allowing four runs for the win.

_ Byron’s team beat the Ottawa-Nepean Canadians 8-7 thanks to a three-run homer by Ashton McQuaig (Brampton, Ont.) and Nathan Currah (Halton Hills, Ont.) pitching two innings for the save.

In other games ...

_ RHP Aidan Luther picked up the win as the Mississauga Majors , coached by Mike Irving, edged Team Philippines 7-6. Luther allowed three hits and one run, while fanning four. Luther had help from 2B Daniel Lucas (Mississauga, Ont.) who made a diving catch. Speedy CF Nolan Scicluna (Mississauga, Ont.) had three hits.

_ The Majors beat the Mississauga Tigers 8-3 as RHP Lucas Marciello (Vaughan, Ont.) pitched a complete game. He allowed three hits -- including doubles to Ryan Cunha (Milton, Ont.) and Jordan Gallo (Mississauga, Ont.) and struck out a pair. C Elijah Morales (Brampton, Ont.) was 2-for-2, with an RBI double while LF Markus Smoljanovic (Caledon, Ont.) also doubled.

_ Nathaniel Chambers (Missisauga, Ont.) registered the win as Mississauga 17U, coached by Sean Travers, beat Team Philippines 12-5. Chamber worked 5 1/3 innings allowing three earned runs on four hits and he struck out four. Josiah Romeo went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs.

_ The Ottawa-Nepean Canadians, coached by Brad Fairholm, beat the Hamilton Cardinals 7-2 on the strength of the arm of Xavier Beckstead (Cornwall, Ont.). He pitched a complete fanning eight and giving up five hits. Wesley Finner (Cornwall, Ont.) had a pair of hits and drove in a run.

_ The 17U Tigers beat the 22U Tigers 3-0 as Ryan Marton (Leaside, Ont.) pitched a shutout without walking a man. He fanned eight. C Lachlan Maude (Etobicoke, Ont.) had a pair of hits and drove in a run.

_ The Tigers 22U thumped the Hamilton Cardinals 24-3. Chris Melvin (Elmira, Ont.) worked five innings allowing a run and striking out four. Kaden Wint (Cambridge, Ont.) was 3-for-3, with four RBIs.

_ The Canadians blanked the Majors 2-0 as Carson Colvin (Nepean, Ont.) put up seven zeros. He allowed four hits and struck out seven. Evan Ogston (Ottawa, Ont.) homered for Ottawa.

_ Hamilton Cardinals edged the Canadians 5-4 as Kyle Fields struck out seven in three scoreless innings. Matthew Moon (Mount Hope, Ont.) knocked in the game-winning run.

_ The Tigers 22U edged the Phillipines 8-7.

_ The Tigers 18U thumped the Majors 15-2 as Stanley went 2-for-4, with a pair of doubles and four RBIs. Curran pitched three scoreless striking out three.

_ The Cardinals edged Tigers U22 4-2 as Colin Muir (Ancaster, Ont.) pitched five innings striking out five.

_ The Majors beat Team Philippines 8-1 at Greg Cranker Field. Alex Pieper (Mississauga, Ont.) pitched two scoreless striking out a pair. Scicluna worked three scoreless -- striking out four -- and also went 3-for-3 with a double.

_ The Tigers 18U blanked the Tigers 17U 13-0 as Hanger was 2-for-2 with a double and a triple. Wesley Johnston (North York, Ont.) pitched four scoreless striking out two and allowing one hit.