Thunder tries to roll for sixth consecutive time

The Tecumseh Thunder are looking for their sixth straight OBA senior elimination tourney. Here they are after winning the 2019 London Lakeside tournament.

By Dan Estey

It is that time of the year again with the Ontario Men’s senior elimination Tournament coming up this weekend in Windsor.

Dreams will come true, hearts will be broken and memories will be made. The 13U championships will be held in St. Thomas, the 15U Mississauga Southwest, the 18U title will be decided in Burlington and the 21U championship will be decided in Oshawa.

A total 21 teams head to Windsor diamonds and the surrounding ball parks looking to be crowned Ontario Champions and earn a spot at the Canadian Men’s Tournament which will take place at the end of August in Chatham, N.B. A game-by-game breakdown of each of the first round matchups:

Bye: Ilderton Red Army (10–7; SWSBL 3rd Place)

The Ilderton Red Army got the benefit of drawing the early bye this year and will get a break to the second round. The Red Army have put together another good season this year and have themselves in a good position to go for a deep run into the tournament again this year. They have a very deep pitching staff that can match-up with about anyone in the province and they have a great hitting lineup that when they are on can give pitchers fits. In tournament play this season, they ran the table winning the Vaughan tournament with a tough 4–3 victory over the Windsor Stars. In London, they went 2-1 and dropped a tough 3–2 verdict to Sarnia in the quarter-finals. At the Hap, they were 3-0 in preliminary play but lost big 11–1 to Newmarket in the quarters. Based on outcomes, they could have a tough schedule early but will have the pitching to be in each of those games.

Top Hitters

Nolan Anderson. Mitch Lumley. Ryan Hartig. Chris McQueen

Top Pitchers

Jeff Davis, Jordan Townshend. Leo Labine, Ryan Beckett

Game #1

Sarnia Braves (14–4; 1st Place SWSBL) vs Etobicoke Rangers (17–5; 1st Place COBA Major)

2019 Results:

Sarnia 10 vs Etobicoke 10 (Lakeside Tourney)

The Sarnia Braves used to be Ontario’s best kept secret on the senior scene. They are now emerging as one of the stronger teams in the province. Their 14-4 record have them leading the Southwestern sloop and they won the Port Lambton Tournament this year while finishing as the finalists in London. The Braves boast a strong line-up one through nine and have a great mix of veterans and youth. They also have a strong pitching staff that has already shown its strength in a tournament setting. With the return of Julian Service from injury, and the team swinging the bats like they are, the Braves could be poised to make a deep run this year.

Top Hitters

Vince Caschera (.395, 32 H, 4 2B, 8 HR, 21 R, 30 RBIs), Brad Hill (.374, 40 H, 4 2B, 2 HR, 21 R, 28 RBIs), Mike Damchuk (.414, 24 H, 2B, 3 HR, 18 R, 20 RBIs), Brett Allardyce (.384, 28 H, 2 2B, 13 R, 18 RBIs)

Top Pitchers

Mike Damchuk (4-0, 2 Sv, 25 1/3 Inn, 22 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 32 K, 1.78 ERA), Wade Babula (4-1, 2 Sv, 43 Inn, 48 H, 24 R, 19 ER, 33 K, 3.95 ERA), Jake Near (4-1, 22 Inn, 23 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 9 K, 2.86 ERA), Eric Steeves (5-1, 34 2/3 Inn, 38 H, 24 R, 18 ER, 26 K, 4.67 ERA)

The Etobicoke Rangers are once again running away with the COBA Major Baseball League. Their 17–5 league record has them at the top of the league by about five games. The Rangers club had a bit of a turnover this year but that has not stopped them from still succeeding at the provincial level. They made it to the semi-finals of the Lakeside Tournament and finished as the finalists at the Hap Walters tournament as well. Etobicoke’s roster has a nice balance of power, speed and some youth to go along with their veteran leaders. The trio of Liam Sutherland, Dei Baning and Stoddart have been great additions to the team while vets Capone, AJ Iafrate and Brad Crone continue to produce for the team as well. Tyler Randa has done a great job balancing off the catching duties with Kyle Bowers. If the Rangers can put together another weekend like they had at the Hap, they can certainly be in the mix come Monday.

Top Hitters

Dan Murphy (.368, 35 H, 3 2B, HR, 19 R, 19 RBIs), Mark Capone (.354, 28 H, 3 2B, 18 R, 15 RBIs), Liam Sutherland (.341, 29 H, 6 2B, 2 3B, 27 R, 16 RBIs), Kyle Bowers (.325, 25 H, 7 2B, 18 R, 7 RBIs).

Top Pitchers

Kyle Angelow (4-0, 38 1/3 Inn, 40 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 28 K, 1.88 ERA), Mike Asta (3-0, 1 Sv, 37 1/3 Inn, 28 H, 17 R, 12 ER, 33 K, 2.89 ERA), Andrew Hyde (5-0, 33 Inn, 30 H, 18 R, 12 ER, 42 K, 3.27 ERA), Adam McBride (3-1, 1 Sv, 37 Inn, 43 H, 21 R, 17 ER, 29 K, 4.14 ERA)

Game #2

Windsor Stars (17–4; 2nd Place Can-Am) vs Oakville A’s (9–12 – 2; 4th Place COBA Major)

2019 Results: No games in 2019

The Windsor Stars are once again having a great season in the Can-Am League. The Stars look a little bit different now then their powerhouse teams of the late 2000s but still boast some great pitching and strong bats that will give any opponent problems. Windsor reached the final of the Vaughan Tournament as they dropped a tight 4-3 decision to the Ilderton Red Army. They also reached the semis of the Hap Walters Tournament before bowing out to the eventual champions from Mississauga Southwest. With arms like Steve Teno, Jack Zimmerman, and Dane Little in your rotation along with players like Jake Lumley, Steve Adam, and others in the lineup, the Stars will always be a threat. Windsor hasn’t seen a great deal of success at the Elims over the past few seasons but are looking poised to make a deep run in 2019.

Top Hitters

Jake Lumley (.404, 36 H, 5 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 26 R, 29 RBIs), Frank Jeney (.375, 24 H, 5 2B, 12 R, 12 RBIs), Steven Adam (.321, 26 H, 3 2B, 3 3B, HR, 22 R, 13 RBIs), Andrew Wasylyk (.393, 24 H, 2B, 3B, 14 R, 17 RBIs).

Top Pitchers

Jack Zimmerman (4-0, 1 Sv, 24 Inn, 21 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 35 K, 1.17 ERA), Steve Teno (6-0, 31 Inn, 24 H, 10 R, 7 ER, 34 K, 1.58 ERA), Dane Little (4-0, 17 Inn, 17 H, 9 R, 5 ER, 12 K, 2.06 ERA), Bobby St. Pierre (3-3, 1 Sv, 39 Inn, 37 H, 19 R, 13 ER, 30 K, 2.53 ERA).

The Oakville A’s currently sit around the middle of the pack in the COBA Major League standings. The young club has made some strides over the past few seasons as they have added several players over the past three years to help to start and improve their team. The A’s have yet to make any real noise at any tournaments yet as they have gone 1-2 at Brampton, Lakeside and the Hap Walters tournament. That being said, the return of Danny Beaver should help bolster their lineup while Mitch Over is now back and pitching after an injury. This will be a good test for the young Oakville team to see where they measure up to one of the premiere teams in Ontario this season.

Top Hitters

Vic Christiansen (.429, 30 H, 7 2B, 2 3B, HR, 16 R, 11 RBIs), Thomas Biskup (.370, 20 H, 5 2B, HR, 9 R, 13 RBIs), Matt Reagan (.296, 21 H, 3 2B, 3 HR, 11 R, 13 RBIs). Ryan Freemantle (.340, 18 H, 3 2B, HR, 12 R, 11 RBIs)

Top Pitchers

Curtis Braun (2-3, 1 Sv, 41 2/3 Inn, 46 H, 32 R, 23 ER, 27 K, 4.97 ERA), Matt Reagan (3-2, 23 Inn, 26 H, 20 R, 15 ER, 13 K, 5.87 ERA), Nick Boyd (1-1, 1 Sv, 35 1/3 Inn, 48 H, 32 R, 25 ER, 19 K, 6.37 ERA). Alex Hawley (2-1, 21 1/3 Inn, 33 H, 14 R, 9 ER, 9 K, 3.80 ERA)

Game #3

Tecumseh Thunder (15–4; 1st Place Can-Am) vs Brampton Royals (9–9; 6th Place COBA Major)

2019 Results: No Games in 2019

The Thunder will be looking to capture their 6th provincial title in a row and should enter the tournament as the unofficial odds on favorite to win again. Tecumseh took a bit of a hit as star hurler Joel Pierce took this season off, but the addition of Kyle Breitner has helped to fill that void in the rotation. Also, the return of Casey Power, Paul Lamantia and Mitch Delaney also helped to make a strong lineup that much more dangerous this season. The Thunder already have one tournament title under their belts as they ran the table at the Lakeside Tournament taking the final 4 – 1 over a strong Sarnia club. Look for the veteran laden club to make a deep run again this season as they have proven over the years that they can always find a way to win.

Top Hitters

Ross Barker (.379, 36 H, 9 2B, 2 3B, HR, 21 R, 20 RBIs), Mitch Delaney (.378, 17 H, 9 2B, 2 HR, 15 R, 21 RBIs), Cam Goddard (.368, 25 H, 4 2B, 5 HR, 21 R, 15 RBIs), Eric Cunningham (.357, 30 H, 2 2B, 20 R, 15 RBIs).

Top Pitchers

Kyle Breitner (5-1, 28 Inn, 12 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 30 K, 0.75 ERA), Micah Harris (5-0, 39 Inn, 36 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 26 K, 1.79 ERA), Chris Horvath (4-3, 46 Inn, 36 H, 19 R, 16 ER, 57 K, 2.43 ERA), Taylor Pappin (2-1, 2 Sv, 28 Inn, 22 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 28 K, 2.58 ERA).

After a red-hot start in COBA Major League regular season play, the Brampton Royals are now currently sitting at .500 with a 9-9 record. They also have a tournament title under their belt as they were the co-winner of their own invitational tournament back in June. They had a rough go at the Hap going 0-3 but lost some very close games to some high calibre teams. The Royals have shown their can hit as they boast one of the better hitting lineups in the province. The return of Zac Fascia will only help to make them that more potent at the plate and in the field. The Brampton club will be looking for more success at the Elims as they made it to the “Final 5” last year before bowing out to Strathroy.

Top Hitters

Joe Ferreira (.420, 21 H, 4 2B, 4 HR, 11 R, 15 RBI); Yannick Rickli (.317, 13 H, 2B, 3B, 12 R, 13 RBI); Marco DiRoma (.273, 12 H, 3 2B, 8 R, 11 RBI); Andrew Thomson (.256, 12 H, 2 2B, HR, 15 R, 9 RBI)

Top Pitchers

Joe Ferreira (2-1, 27 Inn, 24 H, 14 R, 7 ER, 27 K, 2.33 ERA), Brad McLaughlin (3-1, 23 1/3 Inn, 17 H, 18 R, 9 ER, 19 K, 3.42 ERA), Mike Burke (0-1, 24 1/3 Inn, 33 H, 22 R, 10 ER, 17 K, 3.70 ERA), Steve Hough (1-1, 1 Sv, 17 Inn, 12 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 21 K, 3.71 ERA

Game #4

Windsor Athletics (4–16; 5th Place Can-Am) vs Mississauga SW Twins (10–7; 2nd Place COBA Major)

2019 Results: No games in 2019

The Windsor Athletics had another down year in league play as their 4–16 did not qualify them for their league playoffs this past weekend. The A’s did attend the Hap Walters again this year and went 1–2 in round robin play including taking the Etobicoke Rangers to 11 innings before dropping that contest. WAA has some decent sticks, but their lack of arms usually causes an issue for advancement in this tournament. Not to be taken lightly by opponents, the A’s will have to put together a strong effort to get out of Friday this year.

Top Hitters

Adam Pickel (.375, 18 H, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 8 R, 15 RBIs), Ben Robinson (.283, 13 H, 2 2B, HR, 3 R, 7 RBIs), Jeff Walker (.184, 7 H, 3 2B, 6 R, 4 RBIs), Brendan Warnock (.200, 9 H, 2B, 3 R, 3 RBIs).

Top Pitchers

Cole Hillier (1-2, 28 1/3 Inn, 28 H, 19 R, 18 ER, 22 K, 4.45 ERA), Kelly Wasylyk (1-2, 15 1/3 Inn, 16 H, 13 R, 10 ER, 8 K, 4.57 ERA), Derick West (1-1, 8 Inn, 17 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 6 K, 6.00 ERA), Adam Pickel (1-0, 9 Inn, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 K, 3.11 ERA).

The Mississauga SW Twins have been putting together a solid season in the COBA Major Baseball League as their 10-7 record has them sitting in second spot in the loop. The Twins are a team that know how to get things done at this tournament as they have attended the Canadians on a few occasions including winning the Elims in 2013. The veteran squad went 2–1 in round robin play in London missing out on the playoff round. At the Hap Walters, they made others take notice as they ran the table at a perfect 6–0 taking home the 2019 title. Mississauga SW have added a few new pieces this year in Stephen Nahrabeki, David Sigmund and Kevin Cassar but have a very veteran laden team that know how to win at this tournament. They are in a difficult part of the bracket but are poised and ready to make some noise.

Top Hitters

Mike Cardinale (.373, 19 H, 6 2B, 4 HR, 17 R, 22 RBIs), George Farid (.464, 13 H, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 7 R, 14 RBIs), Jamie Smith (.462, 12 H, 2B, 4 R, 4 RBIs), Alex Thrower (.276, 16 H, 4 2B, 22 R, 7 RBIs, 17 SB).

Top Pitchers

Tomas Rincon (4-0, 30 Inn, 17 H, 8 R, 3 ER, 40 K, 0.90 ERA), Jordan Petruska (2-0, 20 Inn, 16 H, 11 R, 11 ER, 9 K, 4.95 ERA), Stephen Nahrabeki (1-2, 21 Inn, 24 H, 16 R, 11 ER, 12 K, 4.71 ERA), James Byrnes (0-0, 1 Sv, 11 Inn, 11 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 10 K, 2.45 ERA)

Game #5

Leaside Leafs (10–10; 5th Place GTBL) vs Pickering Red Sox (12–8; 4th Place GTBL)

2019 Results:

Leaside 7 vs Pickering 15 (League Play)

Pickering 13 vs Leaside 5 (League Play)

The Leaside Leafs have had a good season to this point in GTBL play. The veteran club added a few younger pieces this season to help balance out their roster. They have seen some success in tournament play this season as they lost in the semi-finals at both the Vaughan and Lakeside Tournaments after playing some good ball at both tourneys. The Leafs lineup has been doing well this season but will need some strong pitching outings in order to find themselves deep in this year’s tournament. Veteran hurlers like Jorge Frugoni, Chris Goodale, Howsam and company will need to be big on the mound. They have a familiar foe in Game 1 and will have to get over the hump as they have already lost twice to the Red Sox this season.

Top Hitters

Averey Bet-Payumo (.472, 25 H, 5 2B, 3B, 15 R, 18 RBIs), Nick Manoukarakis (.397, 25 H, 8 2B, 25 R, 6 RBIs), Ryan MacNeill (.333, 12 H, 2B, 12 R, 6 RBIs), Brandon Tamburro (.300, 12 H, 2 2B, HR, 5 R, 12 RBIs).

Top Pitchers

Brook Coatsworth (3-0, 15 2/3 Inn, 24 H, 13 R, 12 ER, 12 K, 6.89 ERA), Jeremias Sucre (1-2, 28 1/3 Inn, 29 H, 19 R, 9 ER, 35 K, 2.86 ERA), Jorge Frugoni (1-4, 1 Sv, 34 Inn, 51 H, 38 R, 27 ER, 18 K, 7.15 ERA), Chris Goodale (1-1, 9 Inn, 12 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 5 K, 5.63 ERA)

The Pickering Red Sox sit a game ahead of the Leafs in the GTBL standings. They have a pair of wins against Leaside already this season and are currently one of the hottest teams in the league as they have won six straight league games. They have had up and down results in tournament play as they made the semi-finals in Brampton losing that game by a tight 7-6 margin to St Thomas. They then went 1-2 in both Port Lambton and at the Hap Walters missing the playoff round in both tournaments. The team sports a slew of veterans that have seen success in this tournament. The return of Mark Cheeseman and Steve Horsley to the mound adds some experience to a good pitching staff. They will be hoping to use the momentum they have built in league play and translate that into a deep run at the provincial level.

Top Hitters

Glenn Reeves (.421, 24 H, 5 2B, 3B, HR, 19 R, 12 RBIs), Peter Riccardi (.337, 28 H, 5 2B, 2 3B, HR, 22 R, 12 RBIs), Jesse Dynes (.376, 41 H, 10 2B, 6 HR, 19 R, 31 RBIs), Drew Roberts (.316, 25 H, 6 2B, 3 HR, 18 R, 14 RBIs).

Top Pitchers

Shaun Slemko (2-2, 33 2/3 Inn, 27 H, 11 R, 11 ER, 20 K, 2.94 ERA), Pat Vecchiarelli (2-1, 2 Sv, 26 1/3 Inn, 24 H, 10 R, 6 ER, 35 K, 2.05 ERA), Peter Nash (1-1, 24 Inn, 24 H, 16 R, 3 ER, 29 K, 1.13 ERA), Brad Binns (3-2, 26 1/3 Inn, 33 H, 30 R, 13 ER, 17 K, 4.44 ERA)

Game #6

Thornhill Reds (13–7; 2nd Place GTBL) vs Martingrove White Sox (0–22; 7th Place GTBL)

2019 Results:

Martingrove 6 vs Thornhill 7 (League Play)

Martingrove 1 vs Thornhill 11 (League Play)

Thornhill 19 vs Martingrove 7 (League Play)

Martingrove 1 vs Thornhill 6 (League Play)

Thornhill 13 vs Martingrove 3 (League Play)

The Thornhill Reds are currently sitting in 2nd place in the league standings for the GTBL. While the club has performed well in league play, they have been up and down in tournament play this year. They went 0–3 in both Port Lambton and Lakeside but went 1–1 in Vaughan and 2–1 at the Hap Walters. In the latter two tournaments, they reached the quarter-finals in both tournaments before bowing out. The Reds will be looking to translate some of their success from the regular season into some success at the provincial level this coming weekend. Their pitching staff got a jolt this year with the addition of Jaz Shergill while Andy Orfanakos returned from overseas. Offensively, veteran guys like Sean Sutton, Kravice Batts and Russell McGibbon will need to step up if the team is going to make a deep run into Sunday and beyond.

Top Hitters

Kravice Batts (.408, 31 H, 6 2B, 3B, 31 R, 12 RBIs, 29 SB), Zach Lampreia (.364, 16 H, 6 2B, HR, 9 R, 15 RBIs), Sean Sutton (.320, 16 H, 6 2B, HR, 17 R, 10 RBIs), Warren Kember (.276, 8 2B, HR, 10 R, 12 RBIs)

Top Pitchers

Jaz Shergill (3-0, 29 Inn, 21 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 29 K, 1.24 ERA), Chadwick Cameron (2-0, 11 Inn, 10 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 8 K, 2.45 ERA), Andy Orfanakos (3-1, 22 Inn, 21 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 5 K, 3.27 ERA), Josh Appel (1-0, 1 Sv, 24 2/3 Inn, 32 H, 20 R, 11 ER, 25 K, 4.01 ERA).

The Martingrove White Sox have had a rough year again this year as they have gone winless in GTBL play this season. The team has been to a pair of tournaments this year as they went 1–2 at both Brampton and Lakeside missing the playoff round at both tournaments. The team took a bit of a hit this year as they lost both Mike Bannon and well as Steve Roncadin from their rotation. From looking at their stats, it has been pitch-by committee for the most part of the year. Offensively, Matt Peluso didn’t return this year plus a few other plyers have taken reduced roles with the club. The team is in a tough part of the bracket and will have a tough time getting out of Friday.

Top Hitters

Dawson Parks (.373, 19 H, 7 2B, 3B, HR, 6 R, 15 RBIs), Wade Sage (.340, 18 H, 4 2B, Hr, 10 R, 9 RBIs), Scott Buck (.311, 19 H, 2B, 3B, 11 R, 6 RBIs), Duncan Perry (.316, 7 H, 3 2B, 4 R, 5 RBIs).

Top Pitchers

Chris Gott (0-3, 19 Inn, 31 H, 19 R, 14 ER, 9 K, 6.63 ERA), Tyler LeBlanc (0-4, 23 1/3 Inn, 35 H, 28 R, 21 ER, 10 K, 8.10 ERA), Brett Synder (0-2, 13 Inn, 20 H, 17 R, 12 ER, 6 K, 8.34 ERA), O’Neill Barnes (0-2, 11 Inn, 30 H, 27 R, 21 ER, 6 K, 17.18 ERA).

Game #7

Erindale Cardinals (10–12; 3rd Place COBA Major) vs Niagara Metros (8–9–1; 7th Place COBA Major)

2019 Results:

Erindale 1 vs Niagara 2 (Brampton Tourney)

Niagara 9 vs Erindale 10 (League Play)

Niagara 5 vs Erindale 9 (League Play)

After getting off to a slow start, the Erindale Cardinals have almost got themselves back to .500 on the season in the COBA Major League. The Cards had a bit of an overhaul with their roster this year as they added five new players. They added three arms as well as a 2B/SS and a catcher. The changes have shored up the defensive end of things for Erindale. The usual hard-hitting Cardinals though have been struggling with the bats a little bit but seems to have things on the upswing being led by Johnny DeWolfe, Jay Woodford and Chris Novia. Evan Harrison has been a great addition to the pitching staff which has been headed by Kevin Lucas, Brendan Fox and Andrew Mullin. They made it to the quarter-finals of the Hap but lost to Mississauga SW. The Cards will have to get things straight at the plate if they are going to go deep in this year’s tournament.

Top Hitters

Chris Novia (.390, 23 H, 7 2B, 6 HR, 13 R, 28 RBIs), Pip Murray-Smith (.323, 32 H, 6 2B, 28 R, 15 RBIs), John DeWolfe (.312, 34 H, 9 2B, HR24 R, 20 RBIs), Jason Woodford (.302, 32 H, 9 2B, 3B, 6 HR, 25 R, 29 RBIs).

Top Pitchers

Kevin Lucas (4-0, 38 Inn, 27 H, 16 R, 10 ER, 26 K, 2.37 ERA), Evan Harrison (6-3, 37 Inn, 41 H, 24 R, 19 ER, 28 K, 4.62 ERA), Dan Estey (1-2, 1 Sv, 25 2/3 Inn, 25 H, 14 R, 10 ER, 22 K, 3.51 ERA), Andrew Mullin (1-1, 1 Sv, 32 2/3 Inn, 30 H, 19 R, 15 ER, 30 K, 4.13 ERA)

The Niagara Metros got off to a horrendous start to the season and it had absolutely nothing to do with their play on the field. Rain pretty much claimed all their games in May. They played three league games in the month. They are almost back at .500 now as they head into the Elims this weekend. The Metros went 2-1 at the Brampton Tournament but lost out in the semi-finals to the host Royals. At the Hap, they went 1-2 and missed out on the playoff round. Niagara added a few bodies this year to help bolster their pitching staff as well as add speed and defense as well as some power in the lineup. Starting pitchers Justin Ayles, Brandon Underhill and newcomer Jacob Renpenning will need to carry a huge load on the mound while vets Taylor Anderson, Jonathan Paul, Jono Marcheterre and former pro Dave Davidson will have to lead a young crop of players if they are going to make a lengthy run this year.

Top Hitters

Chris Anderi (.398, 35 H, 3 2B, 16 R, 11 RBIs), Brandon Underhill (.357, 30 H, 9 2B, 3B, 14 R, 19 RBIs), Dave Davidson (.345, 19 H, 9 2B, HR, 12 R, 9 RBIs), Matt Casburn (.323, 21 H, 4 2B, 14 R, 10 RBIs).

Top Pitchers

Justin Ayles (3-2, 1 Sv, 41 Inn, 44 H, 27 R, 15 ER, 32 K, 3.29 ERA), Liam Jacques (2-1, 34 1/3 Inn, 45 H, 23 R, 14 ER, 19 K, 3.67 ERA), Dylan Perego (2-3, 29 2/3 Inn, 34 H, 17 R, 15 ER, 20 K, 4.55 ERA), Brandon Underhill (2-3, 38 Inn, 54 H, 32 R, 21 ER, 25 K, 4.97 ERA)

Game #8

Kendal Eagles (13-8; 3rd Place GTBL) vs Newmarket Hawks (20-3; 1st Place GTBL)

2019 Results:

Newmarket 9 vs Kendal 8 (League Play)

Newmarket 1 vs Kendal 2 (League Play)

Kendal 2 vs Newmarket 3 (League Play)

Kendal 1 vs Newmarket 3 (League Play)

Newmarket 14 vs Kendal 6 (Hap Walters)

The Kendal Eagles first season in Senior triple-A ball since the days of Ralph Kennedy dominance, has gotten off to a good start. Their league record only has them sitting a half game out of second place Thornhill and they have beat some tough teams in league play. In tournament play, to my knowledge, they have only attended the Hap Walters Tournament where they went 0-3 in those games. Besides the lopsided loss to the Windsor Stars, the Eagles were very competitive in their other two games against Mississauga SW and some team from Newmarket that they might have seen a few times this year. Not knowing a lot about this team personally, from looking at numbers they can swings the bats a ton and have some quality arms as well. Their first game will be a tough one against a quality opponent which will put some pressure on them right away.

Top Hitters

Ryan Davis (.451, 23 H, 3 2B, HR, 9 R, 15 RBIs), Yonn Firebrace (.400, 18 H, 4 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 9 R, 14 RBIs), Sam Cawker (.373, 22 H, 6 2B, 3 HR, 18 R, 15 RBIs), Logan Stewart (.306, 19 H, 3 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 18 R, 24 RBIs).

Top Pitchers

Jake Storrey (3-0, 2 Sv, 23 1/3 Inn, 14 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 23 K, 1.16 ERA), Ryan Norris (2-0, 17 Inn, 21 H, 9 R, 5 ER, 10 K, 2.65 ERA), Brodie Harkness (2-1, 21 Inn, 26 H, 14 R, 13 ER, 21 K, 5.57 ERA), Logan Stewart (2-1, 19 Inn, 18 H, 14 R, 13 ER, 17 K, 6.16 ERA)

The Newmarket Hawks are out of the gates hot in league play as they boast the best record in the GTBL. The Hawks always seem to be one of those teams that are around Sunday morning and no one sees them coming but they will be seen this year. They have added several pieces to the team both from other teams around the league and from their junior program which has strengthened their roster adding a nice dash of talented youth to their veteran crew that has been around for some time. Christian Mullen is having a great 1st year of senior baseball as well as Riley Hoover. Add them into a veteran core of pitchers and they are setup on the mound. Newmarket also has a deep lineup 1-9 which has attributed to their success this season. Tournament play as seen the Hawks go 1 – 2 in Brampton while they made the semi finals and were an inning away from the final but dropped a tight 2-1 game to Etobicoke. Keep an eye on the Hawks as they have the tools to make some noise.

Top Hitters

Chris Bloom (.437, 28 H, 5 2B, 24 R, 12 RBIs), Paul Rupnik (.400, 32 H, 10 2B, 3B, HR, 23 R, 18 RBIs), Dan Telford (.391, 27 H, 6 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 16 R, 15 RBIs), Kevin Holloway (.384, 33 H, 6 2B, 3B, 21 R, 20 RBIs).

Top Pitchers

Christian Mullen (4-0, 29 Inn, 18 H, 10 R, 4 ER, 35 K, 1.24 ERA), Riley Hoover (6-0, 22 Inn, 18 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 15 K, 2.05 ERA), Dan Lehmkuhl (4-1, 27 Inn, 22 H, 11 R, 9 ER, 15 K, 3.00 ERA), CJ Dungavel (3-0, 34 Inn, 42 H, 19 R, 14 ER, 23 K, 3.71 ERA).

Game #9

Milton Red Sox (6–13; 8th Place COBA Major) vs Burlington Brants (9–11–1; 5th Place COBA Major)

2019 Results:

Burlington 12 vs Milton 1 (League Play)

Milton 2 vs Burlington 9 (League Play)

Milton 6 vs Burlington 5 (League Play)

Burlington 2 vs Milton 3 (League Play)

The Milton Red Sox currently occupy the last spot in the COBA Major League but that in no way reflects the calibre of team that is there this summer. This same group of Red Sox went to the Final 5 of the Eliminations last season before bowing out against the Ilderton Red Army. This year the Sox have added a bit of depth as they have added a few fielders along with a couple of arms to back up the pitching staff that was there last summer. The Red Sox will be in tough in this one though as they will more than likely see Brants’ ace Cam Ryerson who has been lights out this season. They have split the season series with the Brants this year, but the latest two games have been lopsided in favour of Burlington. Milton will have a lot of work ahead of them to get deep in the tournament again this year but teams that take them lightly look out as you could get ambushed in a hurry.

Top Hitters

Kalen Winkler (.380, 30 H, 11 2B, 16 R, 10 RBIs), Kevin Greer (.362, 34 H, 9 2B, 14 R, 24 RBIs), Steve Lauzon (.351, 27 H, 2 2B, 13 R, 11 RBIs), Jason Schneider (.338, 26 H, 8 2B, 4 HR, 17 R, 20 RBIs).

Top Pitchers

Chris Cloes (2-3, 49 Inn, 62 H, 33 R, 22 ER, 21 K, 4.04 ERA), Jason Schneider (3-2, 38 1/3 Inn, 45 H, 23 R, 18 ER, 24 K, 4.23 ERA), Ian Zettle (1-6, 41 Inn, 69 H, 41 R, 30 ER, 19 K, 6.59 ERA), Tyler MacKillop (1-2, 17 2/3 Inn, 26 H, 21 R, 16 ER, 6 K, 8.15 ERA)

The Burlington Brants are seemingly getting hot at the right time as they are 7–3 in the past 10 league games heading into the big dance. The Brants pretty much are carrying the same roster they have had for the past few seasons but have added a couple of younger players to help compliment their core of veterans that have been around for awhile now. Max Von Gemmingen, Joel Pierce and Geoff Seto will help give some relief in positions and to free up some arms as well. Tim Sogan and Corrie Morrison will anchor the batting order for the Brants while others like Mike Grilli, Cole Lewis and Brock Marshall will play a big part in the Brants run this year. Cam Ryerson has been the team’s ace while Trevor Woodjetts, Jordan Rienzo and Mike Westlake have been making up the rotation for Burlington. They have a long road ahead but again another team that if taken lightly could turn some heads if given a chance.

Top Hitters

Tim Sogan (.435, 27 H, 5 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 10 R, 22 RBIs), Evan Krychowski (.412, 14 H, 2 2B, 4 R, 5 RBIs), Cole Lewis (.296, 21 H, 5 2B, 12 R, 4 RBIs), Kyle Arbuthnott (.274, 20 H, 2B, HR, 9 R, 7 RBIs).

Top Pitchers

Cam Ryerson (5-0, 1 Sv, 50 2/3 Inn, 47 H, 15 R, 12 ER, 50 K, 2.13 ERA, Trevor Woodjetts (1-3, 2 Sv, 26 Inn, 23 H, 18 R, 7 ER, 22 K, 2.42 ERA), Jordan Rienzo (0-2, 2 Sv, 23 2/3 Inn, 18 H, 11 R, 7 ER, 17 K, 2.66 ERA), Ryan Colling (1-1, 16 Inn, 37 H, 22 R, 19 ER, 12 K, 8.42 ERA).

Game 10

East York Bulldogs (5–15; 6th Place GTBL) vs Strathroy Royals (11–5; 2nd Place SWSBL)

2019 Results:

No games played in 2019

The East York Bulldogs have had a bit of an off year this season. With a large majority of the team leaving after last season for various reasons, the team was left with some big holes to fill in the roster. They still have some talent that is around on the team but there are some noticeable absences that will play a key role in their run this year. On the mound the team still boasts a great rotation with Jeff Gibbs, Jake Gallo and Dustin Lawson able to all give quality innings. The lack of depth will be in the lineup, but they still have some big boppers around from last season in Ben Anderson and Bryan Pyper. Gallo will also see some time in the field as well as Duncan MacLellan. The Bulldogs still have some pieces, but they will be hard pressed to move far in the tournament especially facing a quality opponent like Strathroy in their first game.

Top Hitters

Jake Gallo (.357, 10 H, 2 2B, HR, 5 R, 6 RBIs), Tyler Dobie (.444, 12 H, 3 2B, HR, 6 R, 6 RBIs), Pete Samonas (.354, 23 H, 2 2B, HR, 11 R, 20 RBIs), Bryan Pyper (.295, 13 H, 2 2B, HR, 6 R, 7 RBIs)

Top Pitchers

Dustin Lawson (2-0, 26 2/3 Inn, 26 H, 13 R, 11 ER, 29 K, 3.71 ERA), Jeff Gibbs (1-4, 1 Sv, 42 1/3 Inn, 35 H, 26 R, 23 ER, 72 K, 4.89 ERA), Bryan Pyper (1-2, 22 Inn, 22 H, 13 R, 12 ER, 19 K, 4.91 ERA), Jake Gallo (1-0, 5 Inn, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 K, 3.60 ERA)

The Strathroy Royals are enjoying another good season in the Southwestern League. The club currently sits in second place in the loop behind a very strong Sarnia club. The Royals are not strangers to going deep in this tournament and this year they will be looking to do the same. There are a few plyers gone from past years, but management has done a good job at bringing in some younger players to the team to help complement the great core of veteran guys that are still around. In tournament play this year, Strathroy made it to the final of the Port Lambton Tournament before dropping a tight 5-2 game to Sarnia. They also attended the Hap Walters tournament and went 1–2 missing out on the playoff round. If Strathroy gets on a roll, look out for them throughout this tournament as they are tough to beat especially late in the tournament.

Top Hitters

Matt Cook, Justin Cook, Mitch Roy, Ron Oneson

Top Pitchers

Tyler Annett, Brandon Agnew, Craig Steadman, Matt Cook