Saints win COSSA baseball title
Standing on the infield grass, Crestwood Mustangs head coach Reed Manley asked his players to raise their shoulders and take a deep breath after narrowly defeating Prince Edward Collegiate Panthers in one semi-final of Wednesday’s COSSA baseball championships.
The Mustangs came from behind to defeat the 2016 champions by a 3-2 score, holding off a Picton team that failed to capitalize on a golden opportunity to walk off the game after loading the bases in an intense final half inning.
But Crestwood met its match in an all-Peterborough final against St. Peter, which prevailed 9-6, earning the Saints a berth in the OFSAA baseball championships to be held at Bishop Allen Academy in Etobicoke next Wednesday and Thursday.
Following the victory, head coach Kevin Fitzgerald told his players they’ve done something no Peterborough high school baseball team has done before. “They are now a part of history and that is something that can never be taken away from them.”
On the other side, Manley reminded his players that the loss is nothing to be ashamed of. “They did really well. What more can you say ... we beat the team that we lost to last year.”
The semi-final win over Prince Edward, the top-seeded Quinte team, was a “sweet victory” for a Crestwood squad that also lost by just one run to the same team in last year’s COSSA championship, the skip said after the first game.
Prince Edward took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, a score that remained unchanged until Crestwood batted in the top of the fifth.
After loading the bases with an infield single and pair of walks, they cut the lead to in half by scoring on a ground ball. But they could do no further damage before a pickoff move hung up two runners in rundowns, leading to the third out.
The Panthers then loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning, but could not extend their lead.
The Mustangs tied the game on a sacrifice fly. A base runner that stole third base provided the winning run, scoring on an infield fielding error.
While Mustangs pitcher Zach Laurie struck out the side in the final half-inning of the game, the win was no cakewalk. The Panthers reached base on back-to-back infield and outfield fielding errors before a walk loaded the bases, leading to the dramatic finish.
St. Peter defeated St. Theresa 7-3 in the first semi-final played at the Trent University diamond.
Pitcher Alex Pinao hurled five complete innings – during which the team only allowed two unearned runs, Fitzgerald said.
He said the Saints defence shut down the second-seeded team from Quinte as its offence averaged about a run per inning – the games are played to seven innings, rather than nine.
St. Peter, Crestwood, Holy Cross and Campbellford finished one, two, three and four out of a total of seven teams that competed in a doubleelimination tournament held May 15 and 17.
It’s the second year local baseball teams have competed at the provincial level and coaches from both teams said they are pleased to see continued growth.
More and more players are taking part, including schools from areas outside of Peterborough, such as Norwood, Campbellford and Lindsay, Fitzgerald said.
The number of players is also up in minor mosquito ball, which Fitzgerald also coaches. “That only bodes well for us, moving forward ... that’s great for us.”