The WK Financial SMBA Minor Midget team lost their opening game at the Single A OBA championships in Kitchener on the weekend, rebounded with four straight victories only to lose in the semi final game on Sunday...
With the tournament down to three one loss teams Orillia was chosen out of the hat to go straight to a one game final versus the winner of Halton Hills and our Nationals in a semi final game.
In a game that saw 30 hits and 10 errors between the two clubs the Nationals had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh and final inning but Halton Hills held on for the 12-10 victory and a few hours later were champs after an 8-6 win over Orillia.
In the semi final game Nathan Graff led the Nats at the plate with three hits and four RBI. Jack Whitehead had three hits and scored three times, Ethan Boersma had a triple and a RBI, Caleb Musselman a double and a RBI, Carter Musselman two hits and knocked in a run and Sam Thomas singled and scored a key late run. Boersma scattered 15 Eagle hits on the mound allowing seven earned runs while striking out two.
Earlier Sunday the Nats gained a spot in the final three teams with a convincing 8-2 win over Richmond Hill. Caleb Musselman hit the first pitch of the game for a 320 foot home run and the Nats never looked back. Musselman added two other hits while Whitehead and Carter Musselman each had a triple and knocked in a run. Evan Heinbuch had two hits and two RBI, Owen Duiker stroked a pair of singles and Graff knocked in a pair of runs. Heinbuch was stellar on the mound going six strong innings allowing one earned run on one hit while striking out five.
Stratford started out play Friday with a tough 15-11 walk off loss to Ottawa West. David Hynd had a home run and four RBI to lead the offense. Whitehead and Carter Musselman had three hits each and a combined five RBI while Spencer Eidt and Jackson Nickel each had a double and RBI. Carter Musselman was the hard luck loser allowing just two earned runs on seven hits.
Needing to run the table on Saturday in order to play Sunday the Nats knocked off Hamilton, Pickering and London West, piling up the runs in the process.
In an 11-8 win over Hamilton Caleb Musselman, Whitehead, Graff and Boersma all had two hits Whitehead a triple and Graff a double with Whitehead and Boersma driving in two runs each. Eidt had a single and RBI while Maddox Keller singed and scored. Boersma allowed five earned on the hill to get the W.
Next up was Pickering and an 11-6 Nats win. Owen Akey had two hits and got the win on the mound allowing six earned on 6 hits while fanning three. Whitehead and Heinbuch each doubled and singled with Whitehead scoring three times. Eidt had two hits while Boersma doubled and knocked in a run and Hynd had two hits and three RBI.
Saturday evening in what was the Nats best played game of the season, Stratford defeated a very strong London West team 10-0 in six innings. Carter Musselman was absolutely dominant on the mound allowing eight hits and striking out seven. Akey led the way at the plate with two hits and a RBI while Caleb Musselman, Graff and Eidt all had RBI hits for the Nats.
The coaching staff is very proud of this group for making such a run with their backs to the wall and also for receiving several compliments from other centres on what a great group of lads they were and a pleasure to compete against!!! Well done boys!!!