Cape Breton Post

The kids are all right

Isle Madame Mariners capture first-ever RABA title with seven teenagers in lineup

- BY JEREMY FRASER jeremy.fraser@cbpost.com Twitter: @CBPost_Jeremy

When the Isle Madame Mariners were establishe­d four years ago, Shawn Samson knew his club would have to be patient and believe in the process.

With the majority of his players being teenagers – between the ages of 14-16– he knew a Richmond Amateur Baseball Associatio­n (RABA) championsh­ip title wouldn’t happen overnight.

“I told them it was going to take four or five years,” said Samson, the Mariners coach.

“I knew we’d take our licks the first couple of years because we were playing against men that played ball all their life, but as time went on, I knew we’d get some experience and we’d win.” Samson wasn’t wrong. In their first season in the RABA in 2015, the Mariners finished last in the league, posting an 0-18 record. The following year, the team had three wins, allowing 165 runs in 16 games.

Gaining experience in the league, Isle Madame turned heads during the 2017 season, competing for a league title, finishing third in the six-team league, five points back of the Petit de Grat Red Caps and Little Anse Hawks.

This season, the Mariners finished tied for first overall in the league with the Inverness Athletics, making them a favourite to win the league title.

And that’s just what they did. On Sunday, Isle Madame captured its first-ever RABA title, defeating the Little Anse Hawks 12-10 at the Petit de Grat ball field.

Callum Boudreau powered the offense for the Mariners with two home runs and five RBI. Zack Bond had the win on the mound.

Brandon Boudreau had a double and a triple along with two RBI for Little Anse. Clem Fougere was tagged with the loss.

To make the victory even more impressive, seven of the nine players that played in the championsh­ip game for the Mariners are still teenagers, with the team’s catcher, Dobson Boudreau, only going to Grade 12 next month.

Samson considers the win to be one of the biggest accomplish­ments in RABA history.

“For me, I was on championsh­ip teams that won in the early 1990s, I was a young teenager, sitting on the bench with a veteran team, I was just happy to be part of it,” said Samson.

“These kids were the main guys on the team and they’re teenagers winning a RABA title — they’re good ball players and deserve to be recognized.”

Isle Madame opened the tournament on Friday night, losing to Petit de Grat 10-3. The team went on to win games against Little Anse and Inverness on Saturday and later advanced to the championsh­ip game.

The Richmond Amateur Baseball Associatio­n was establishe­d in 1970 and has seen many teams repeat as champion, including the Petit de Grat Red Caps, who at one time won 13 straight titles.

Along with making team history on Sunday, the Mariners win also broke the Hawks’ reign of five consecutiv­e championsh­ip titles.

Samson believes the Mariners have an opportunit­y now to win consecutiv­e titles moving forward.

“I would hate to put that kind of pressure on them, but if that team stays together that won on Sunday, there are more championsh­ips coming our team’s way in the future,” said Samson.

 ?? PHOTO SUBMITTED/RICHMOND AMATEUR BASEBALL ASSOCIATIO­N ?? The Isle Madame Mariners captured its first-ever Richmond Amateur Baseball Associatio­n championsh­ip on Sunday, defeating the Little Anse Hawks 12-10 in Petit de Grat. Members of the team are, from left, front row, Lloyd Samson, Zack Bond, Dylan David, Jimmy Bungay and Mike Diggdon (coach). Back row, Dobson Boudreau, Drake Boudreau, Travis Landry, Ethan Dorey, Joel Fougere, Callum Boudreau and Shawn Samson (coach).
PHOTO SUBMITTED/RICHMOND AMATEUR BASEBALL ASSOCIATIO­N The Isle Madame Mariners captured its first-ever Richmond Amateur Baseball Associatio­n championsh­ip on Sunday, defeating the Little Anse Hawks 12-10 in Petit de Grat. Members of the team are, from left, front row, Lloyd Samson, Zack Bond, Dylan David, Jimmy Bungay and Mike Diggdon (coach). Back row, Dobson Boudreau, Drake Boudreau, Travis Landry, Ethan Dorey, Joel Fougere, Callum Boudreau and Shawn Samson (coach).

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