Opposing teams don't have a ghost of a chance against Waterloo Ghosts Gold
The Waterloo Ghosts Gold head to the Eastern Canadian championships with a 69-0 record.
August 23, 2023
We don’t do a lot of softball coverage here on the Canadian Baseball Network website.
Yet, we don’t see a lot of teams carrying a 69-0 record in the national championships.
The Waterloo Ghosts Gold are in Cardigan, PEI, at the 13U Eastern Canadian championships looking to complete their dream season, which to date has included:
_ Eight tournaments ... eight wins, including the recently-concluded Grand Valley tournament and the Ontario championship.
_ Outscoring opponents on an average of 12-2 this season in the 69 games.
_ Best on the mound have included McKenzie Howard, Shae-Lyn Byrnes and Sydney Ryan give the Ghosts three aces, who are amongst the best in the province
_ Lyla Naughton, who has had an incredible year and is a force offensively.
_ Mia George, the table-setting lead-off hitter.
_ Kyra Ballantyne, a bunting machine and a speed threat.
_ Reese Faulhafer, who runs like a gazelle and is known for hard line drives.
_ Hannah Maric, a solid left-handed hitter.
_ And Peyton Dickison a fearsome right-handed hitter.
This dominant group is coached by Angela Howard.
Play begins Thursday morn, with opening ceremonies later on at 6 o’clock. The final will be played Sunday at 1 pm at JD MacIntyre Field.
The Three Rivers Clippers qualified automatically as the host team, while the Stratford Stealers and West Royalty Rockets earned two spots representing PEI. The Royals de Repentigny and Etoiles Rive-Sud are competing wearing Quebec colours while the Oromocto Silverbacks and Southern Black Bears represent New Brunswick in the 12-team field. Conception Bay Central will represent Newfoundland. Nova Scotia has an entry.
Newfoundland was originally awarded the tournament, but pulled out earlier this year. PEI was asked if any of its associations wanted to host and it was awarded to Cardigan in May.
The format consists of two round-robin pools of six teams each. The top three advance to playoffs starting Saturday night. The two first-place teams square off, with the winner going directly to the final. The loser of that game will play whatever team survives the second-place third-place crossovers for the other spot in the championship.