A thrilling finish

Islanders, Royals need 14 innings to determine Atlantic 13-and-under champion

There was no lack of excitement – and or nervousness – at Queen Elizabeth Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Capital District Islanders from Charlottetown and Fredericton Royals battled in an entertaining gold-medal game of the Baseball Canada 2018 Atlantic 13-and-under championship before a big and boisterous crowd on the Very Important Volunteer Field.

The marathon final was not decided until the bottom of the 14th inning. That is when the Jack Rowell singled home Luke Coughlin, who led off with a triple to centre field, with the gamewinning run to give the Islanders a 10-9 victory.

The teams entered extra innings tied 8-8, and exchanged unearned runs in the ninth inning. Caleb Rice, who reached on an infield error, scored the go-ahead run on another infield miscue off the bat of Tyler Stewart to give the Royals the lead. The Islanders answered in their half as Luke Coughlin reached second base on an infield error, and scored on Graysen LaPorte’s single to centre field.

Pitching win

Jack Burke, who recorded the final out in the top of the 14th inning, was credited with the pitching win. Burke, the Islanders’ fourth pitcher of the day, relieved Wil White after 6 1/3 strong innings of work. Sam Gallagher, who went 8 2/3 innings, took the loss.

Coughlin swung the hot bat for the Islanders, going 4-for-6, including a walk, and scoring four runs. Owen Blacquier had three hits to lead Fredericton.

The Royals were rewarded for coming out swinging and playing an aggressive style as they jumped out to an 8-2 lead after 2 ½ innings. However, the Islanders began to claw their way back, scoring once run in the third, two in the fourth and tying the game with a three-run fifth.

Overall, Capital District outhit Fredericton 14-10 and committed nine of the game’s 17 errors.

The Islanders completed the eight-team, four-day tournament

a perfect 5-0 (won-lost) while the Royals were 3-2. Both of Fredericton’s losses came to the Islanders,

including a 9-0 decision in a round-robin game Friday morning.

Cameron Doyle of the Capital District Islanders punches a single to the opposite field during Sunday afternoon’s goldmedal game of the Baseball Canada 2018 Atlantic 13-and-under championship at Queen Elizabeth Park in Summerside. The Islanders edged the Fredericton Royals 10-9 in 14 innings.

Capital District Islanders third baseman Jack Burke backhands a ground ball during the gold-medal game of the Baseball Canada 2018 Atlantic 13-andunder championship at Queen Elizabeth Park in Summerside. The Islanders pulled out a 10-9 win in 14 innings versus the Fredericton Royals.