Ontario One completes round robin undefeated
Playoffs at under-18 nationals start Saturday
There were two undefeated teams heading into the final round-robin game of the 2017 Canadian under-18 men’s fastpitch championship on Friday night.
Ontario One completed play 6-0 (won-lost) while Ontario Three took a 5-0 resumé into the finale of the round robin against Saskatchewan One (4-1). The result of that game was unavailable at deadline time.
The playoff round in the 12team tournament starts Saturday.
The host P.E.I. lost twice on Friday – 7-5 to Manitoba and 13-8 to Newfoundland Two and Labrador to complete roundrobin play 1-5.
N.L. Two 13 P.E.I. 8
At Ellis Field, Newfoundland and Labrador Two jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning, and then used a seven-run third frame to open up a commanding 13-2 advantage.
Colin Gaudette drove in three runs for P.E.I., which answered with six runs in the fourth to make it a 13-8 game. Dylan Noonan, Ethan Beaulieu, Max
Benton and Garrett Hebert also recorded RBIs. Gaudette, Beaulieu and Gabe Penalver all had two hits.
Noonan was the pitcher of record for the Island squad. Newfoundland and Labrador Two completed the round robin 1-5.
Manitoba 7 P.E.I. 5
A comeback attempt by P.E.I. fell just short.
The Island team fell behind Manitoba 7-0 after 3 ½ innings, but refused to give up and rallied for five runs in the final three innings to make for an interesting finish.
At Ellis Field, Patrick Young and Dawson Sellick each went 2-for-3, with a walk, run scored and run batted in to lead the Island squad offensively. Marshall Kulich went the distance on the mound for P.E.I. He gave up seven earned runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out one.