Off to the Nationals

By Mike Lumley

London Badgers

The 2018 season has been a prosperous one for the London Badgers organization as three of its teams are heading to the nationals and the 15U Badgers struck gold at the Ontario Summer Games.

The 15U Badgers continued their winning ways by going 7-0 against and all-star cast of affiliate teams from around the province. After going 5-0 in their pool they faced the 2016 national champions and this year’s elimination champs Brampton Royals. It was their hardest challenge to date but the LDBA Badgers came home with the a 2-0 win to put them into the final. Great pitching and defence defeated a strong EOBA All-Star team to earn gold.

A championship addition is 14u Badger Carson Lumley who was selected to join the Brampton in the 15U bantam National championships in Oshawa, Ont. This will be his second National invite in two years. 

The 18U Badgers earned the opportunity to defend their National championship title by going 7-0 at the Ontario elimination. The Badgers head to Fort McMurray, Alta. from Aug. 15-21 to take on Canada’s best midget aged players. The Badgers will have to take on New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Quebec and British Columbia to earn the chance for a National championship medal. 

Will Pollard (London) had three hits in Game 1 against New Brunswick, a 9-1 win, while Judd Walker (Mitchell) had three RBIs. Connor Ambrogio (Dorchester) picked up the win.

Zack Gazendam (Tillsonburg) gained the win and Mason Newell (St. Thomas) - the save in a 5-3 win over Saskatchewan. C Xavier Jamieson (Wyoming)  has committed to Mayville State University.

The St. Thomas Tomcats are hosting the 21u National championships Aug. 16-21 in St.Thomas. This year’s juniors have tons of Nationals experience which they will need to help propel them through to the Championships. The games will be played at Emslie and Cardinal Fields. Former Badgers and Great Lake Canadians are on the team such as LHP Travis Keys LHP (London) who pitched for Ontario in the Canada Cup a couple of years ago, Michael Mommersteeg, (St. Thomas) and Alex Lamont (London). C Troy Lofgren C (London) and OF Jacob Mansfield (London) both play in Michigan during the school year.

The Badgers/Ilderton Red Army team will be one of two Ontario teams heading to the National championships in Victoria, BC Aug. 23-26. This team is made up of players ranging in age from 22-32 but combined they have a winning pedigree with former OUA and National championship experience. Paul Lytwynec, Andrew Firth, Nolan Anderson and Mitch Lumley all had experience at Nationals with the Badgers.

    --- With files from Dan Haugh