CULBERT PEEWEES FIREWORKS FESTIVAL CHAMPIONS, News, Peewee Girls Fastball U14, 2018, G-PW (Goderich Minor Baseball)

This Team is part of the 2018 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Jul 23, 2018 | Dan Ridsdale | 983 views
CULBERT PEEWEES FIREWORKS FESTIVAL CHAMPIONS

The U14 Peewee Girls Fastball Club have been working since early April toward the Huron Perth Fastball League (H.P.F.L.) Championships in mid-August. The H.P.F.L. is a good test, but the locals knew that their entry into the Mount Forest Fireworks Festival Tournament over the July 20-22nd weekend would be very challenging with no easy innings.



Their competition in this three team mini-tournament were the host Mavericks who were unbeaten in Inter-County Softball Association (I.S.A.) play, and the Listowel Selects who are a chosen team from that region of Perth selected to play in tournaments, and represent in the O.R.S.A. Provincial Championships. To put it bluntly, these upstart Lady Seahawks were about to face two days of very challenging fastball.

LISTOWEL SELECTS 9 VS. SEAHAWKS 3
 The Seahawks got on the board early in the first game as Grace T scored by stealing home on a passed ball. Jamie A hit a fairly deep fly ball with Kate J and Zoe M aboard, but the Selects right fielder made a nice catch to keep it 1-0.
Janelle D took to the mound for the Culbert Crew, and came out strong striking out the first batter. The next few Listowel hitters gave evidence of how stiff the competition would be with base hits combined with a few walks, and an error to take a 5-1 lead. Ava F scored in the second courtesy of a Payton S RBI. The Selects continued to mix timely hitting with some Seahawk inconsistency to score four more extending their lead to 9-2. Brianna M made it 9-3 with some aggressive base running. However, the Selects did a nice job of getting both Grace T, and Abby A out at home to put a halt to any Seahawk rally. The shorter sixty five minute round robin tourney play was a good lesson for the Seahawks to remind them that big come backs versus quality ball clubs is not an easy thing to do.

MOUNT FOREST 7 VS. SEAHAWKS 3
The locals came out swinging in the evening game, and may have deserved a better fate in this contest if some of their fly balls were placed a little differently. Brianna M started for Goderich, and had her finest outing of the season in the loss. In fact, the Seahawks held a 3-2 lead heading into the fourth inning, but the hometown Mavericks had some key hitsto score five for the win. Katie R had an awesome performance at the plate collecting a pair of hits and RBI's in defeat.
With the two opening day losses under their belt, the stage was set for a semi final rematch on Sunday morning versus the same Mavericks team.

SEAHAWKS 11 @ MOUNT FOREST 5
Grace T, and Emily H set the table in the first by reaching safely. Grace T was plated by a Jamie A sacrifice fly. Bella M stroked a single to score Emily H. Zoe M then drove a line drive up the middle scoring Bella M. When Jaimy L hit a loud fly out to centre field to end a three run first for the Seahawks, the Mavericks knew they were facing a more focused Seahawks club on this day.
Payton S started for the Surveyors, and served notice that she would be on her game. The Mavericks responded with a run in the home half, and then tied things up at three in the third. However, the Seahawks blew the game wide open as Grace T, and Jamie A were driven in by another great at bat by Bella M. This was followed by consecutive hits from Brianna M, and Zoe M. These hits were followed by free passes to Kate J, and Jaimy L setting the stage for a bases loaded two run single to left by Janelle D to cap off a five run inning, and an 8-3 lead.
The Mavericks clawed back to score one in the bottom of the fourth, but Payton S, Abby A, and Grace T all crossed the plate to extend the lead putting the Seahawks into the Championship game that afternoon.

SEAHAWKS 14 @ LISTOWEL SELECTS 8
The Championship game started off lively as Abby A, and Katie R showed their leadership with a pair of hard fought outs setting a good tone for the game. Jamie A then stroked a single, and opened the scoring with her typical intelligent base running skills.
The Selects showed why they had the bye to the final by scoring three off starter Payton S in the bottom half of the first courtesy of a couple of hits, and Goderich errors. The Culbert Crew led off the second with a Brianna M double. Bella M plated Brianna M with a fabulous right side ground out RBI. Jaimy L  then drew a free pass after a lengthy at bat, and was driven home by an Ava F single. Janelle D then gave a huge effort in beating out a dropped third strike allowing Ava F to cross the plate sending the savvy Selects into a bit of a tailspin defensively. Payton S then helped her own cause by hustling out a Listowel error scoring Janelle D. Abby D then battled hard for a hit by pitch free pass setting the stage for a mammoth two run double by Abby A which sent both Payton S, and Abby D flying across the plate with a 6-5 Goderich lead.
Payton S then proceeded to completely trust her defence in shutting down the big Listowel bats over the next four innings with the Surveyors making many fabulous defensive plays in support of their tenacious starter. Katie R capped off a nice weekend at the plate in the third with another solid line drive hit. She was then plated by a Kate J fielder's choice. Zoe M soon followed with a hit, and the Seahawks led 8-5. This game became out of reach when Goderich scored five in the fourth inning to extend their lead to 13-5. Jaimy L, Ava F, Janelle D, Payton S, and Abby D all contributed again from the bottom half of the batting order to help solidify a championship victory.
The bottom of the seventh saw the Selects score three in a late rally. However, Payton S saved some final strength for back to back strike outs as the Peewee Girls won their first championship in the history of this relatively young program.
As the Peewees poured onto the field to celebrate the win, Coach Glen Ditner couldn't say enough good things about the unselfish contributions from the over agers who only get to play part time roles on the field for the Seahawks, but contribute constantly to boost the team through their maturity and leadership. Said Ditner..."Grace T, Emily H, Abby A, and Katie R deserve a ton of credit for being so unselfish, and always being prepared to play a part role contributing so much for this club." 
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