Fitzroy Harbour West
Carleton Electric finishes one game shy of provincial championship game
By JAKE DAVIES
Staff Writer
FITZROY HARBOUR - While 50 million North Americans suffered through their worst blackout in recorded history the Fitzroy Harbour West Carleton Electric men's fastball team brought their own power to the OASA Men's C Provincial Fastball Tournament played in the Harbour.
"I'd go anywhere for fastball," one excited fan said before the tournament's big game of the night was played last Friday evening. "I love it."
'Team owner' Dale Hanna threw out the ceremonial first pitch followed by Glen Reitsma's rendition of the national anthem. Ward 5 Councillor Dwight Eastman welcomed the players and some 300-400 fans whom packed the stands and surrounding greenspace and with that the night's main event got underway with the Electric facing Blackburn.
Clutch plays at critical points earmarked the young first year team as the Electric played hard, focused ball throughout the tournament.
In the top of the second Blackburn had a runner on first with two out. A solid single was hit to shallow right field, but smartly picked up by outfielder Jon Daley who quickly hit the cut off man and the Electric saved a run on good team play.
Pitcher Big Bud "the Newfie" Hanlon got behind the next batter three balls to one strike. The 6'5" giant quickly showed why pitching is deep on this team by firing two strikes to end the inning.
At the bottom of the fifth inning Catcher Steve Johnson lined a home run over the left field fence to give the Electric a one-run lead.
In the top of the sixth though Blackburn got on the board with a single to score the runner on second. Hanlon kept it at that though with another third out punch out.
The tie wouldn't last long though as Daley got on base the following inning with a solid single. Shortstop Mike Cavanagh laid down a bunt that died only a few inches from home plate causing Blackburn's third baseman to hurry his throw and send the ball sailing over the first baseman. Daley scored on the play and Cavanagh ended up on third. First baseman Neil Murphy, the very next batter, made contact with the ball and Cavanagh scored on the suicide squeeze with a nice slide.
Going into the last inning with a 3-1 lead Hanlon gave up a hit to the first batter but promptly struck out two and forced the other batter to fly out. Electric wins, Electric wins.
Saturday saw the Electric in tough against the Micksburg Twins, a team that came third in the 2002 Eastern Canadian Intermediate B tournament and second at the 2003 Ontario Intermediate Eliminations tournament. The team featured some of the best pitching in Canada in Shawn Costello.
"Going into the tournament we consider Micksburg the favourite to win the tourney," said first base coach and infielder/outfielder Don Rorwick.
In the third inning Micksburg threatened with a batter reaching first on an error. After a suicide bunt Micksburg had a player on second with only one out. Pakenham's Jimmy Ryan was the starting pitcher for the Electric this day and promptly struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning.
At the top of the third inning Electric's third baseman Shawn Rebertz lined the first pitch he saw over the left field wall to give the Electric the only run they would need.
In the sixth inning Daley took a hard pitch to the ribs to get first base. Cavanagh advanced Daley to third. Murphy was then hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. Rebertz then laid down a bunt which resulted in Daley being caught in a rundown. Daley faked back to third forcing a throw and then dove home, safe. Centrefielder Charles Ross added a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.
In the seventh Cavanagh hit a double scoring Daley from first to put West Carleton up 4-0. Hanlon came in to pitch the last inning for the Electric and walked the first batter. He got out of trouble though forcing a pop out and added to strikeouts. The Electric's Ryan and Hanlon combined to no-hit the heavily favoured Twins for Fitzroy's second win in two tries.
The afternoon game featured a match between the Electric and the undefeated Jarvis Rock.
The home team got into trouble early and was down 1-0 after the first. By the third inning it was 3-0 for Jarvis but could have been worse if it wasn't for Cavanagh starting a double play by picking up a sharp grounder, stepping on second and throwing to Murphy at first to get out of the third.
The Electric batters had a tough time getting anything going against the overpowering pitching of Dave Martin.
Despite several fine defensive plays by the Electric the team was defeated 6-0 by the Rock setting up an 11 a.m. do or die situation for the Fitzroy Harbour team on Sunday morning.
It’s rematch time
The double-elimination style tournament put the Electric in a must win situation in a rematch against the Micksburg Twins. A win and the Electric was in the championship game. The previous day's match was fiercely competed including some bickering in the stands between two die-hard fans rooting for their teams.
Ryan was given the start and the atmosphere, like the team name, was electric. The fans got to the park early and were very vocal in support of their team.
The Electric won the toss and was awarded home field advantage. In the top of the first Micksburg's leadoff hitter started things off with a double. The second batter knocked the ball to SS Cavanagh who froze the runner at second and then threw the hitter out at first. Murphy fired a perfect strike to Rebertz nailing the greedy Micksburg runner at third for the double play. Pitcher Ryan gave up one more hit, but got the third out with a K.
The bottom of the first saw the Electric striking first with Murphy cashing in Daley who had hit a double. West Carleton was up 1-0.
The defensive highlights continued into the second inning. With a runner on first Micksburg was planning on bunting. The bunt popped up a little and 1B Murphy made a diving catch and then alertly threw to first where second baseman Trevor Barton was covering for the spectacular double play.
The third inning saw Micksburg tie the game up with a home run. In the top of the fourth Micksburg loaded the bases but was only able to score one run on a sacrifice fly. Ryan struck out the other two batters keeping the score 2-1 for the Twins. The Electric replied in their offensive half of the inning with Cavanagh and Murphy getting to third and second base. With two out Ross delivered a two-run single putting West Carleton up 3-2 for the third lead change of the game.
In the sixth inning Micksburg regained the lead making the score 4-3 going into the last inning.
Hanlon came in to pitch the last inning and retired the three batters he faced.
Needing a run to lengthen the game, outfielder Jason Armstrong hit a one-out double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. With two outs Trevor Barton came to the plate. Barton fought off a few pitches before hitting a seeing-eye single up the middle to bring home Armstrong and send the game to extra innings.
OASA rules dictate that extra innings start with a runner on second. Micksburg hit two home runs in the eighth scoring three runs and giving them a 7-4 lead. The Electric came to bat but were only able to score one run in their inning and lost the game 7-5. The crowds showed their appreciation of the team's effort giving them a large round of applause following the game.
The first-year team fought hard all weekend and proved they belonged in the tournament and will be obvious favourites next year. Their two losses came at the hands of the two teams who would meet for the provincial title, which saw Jarvis beating Micksburg 9-1.
The Electric played smart focused ball and was encouraged by the large crowds that came out to support them.
"We're pleasantly surprised but not shocked by the large crowds," SS Cavanagh said. "We felt a lot of people were pretty excited about the tournament."
Manager Adam Brown was also pretty happy with the tournament's outcome.
"We had volunteers out our ears, the 50/50 tickets were excellent and we had a good gate," he said. "We made enough money to play in a league next year. It's so fun to play in front of such a supportive crowd. They were great. I must of shook 100 hands after the game."
"The tournament was the talk of the town," Rorwick added.
The team was also very appreciative of their sponsors.
"Dale Hanna was so great to us," 1B Murphy said. "We're so proud to give him a good show. I remember when I was 12 watching the Hanna team play hoping some day I could be on the team."