Golden Hawks soar at fastball tourney

The Regina Golden Hawks ruled the roost at the 50th annual Canada Day Fastpitch Tournament.

In an all-Saskatchewan final Sunday night at Spruce City Stadium, the Hawks blanked the Prince Albert Thunderbirds 7-0.

Ron Cote hit a three-run home run in the third inning for a 4-0 lead and all-star shortstop Terrell Walker went three-for-four and drove in three runs.

Bo Thomas pitched the shutout. Dustin Keshane, voted the top pitcher in the 13-team tournament, took the loss for the T-birds.

The Hawks lost 3-2 to Prince Albert Sunday afternoon in a semifinal battle of the unbeatens. That dropped the Golden Hawks into the B final against Custom Edge, which Regina won 2-1 in seven innings. Josh Montana’s base hit scored Terrell Walker with the winning run in the fourth inning, after Custom Edge leadoff hitter Nicholas Potskin opening the scoring in the first inning.

Custom Edge advanced to the B final with an 11-4 win over the Big Guy Lake Kings of Prince George.

In the final of the women’s final, the Secwepemc Saints of Kamloops scored a 9-2 decision over Driftpile of Alberta.

Golden Hawks pitcher Jeff Thomas had 66 strikeouts in the three-day tournament and was named the most valuable player. Potskin, the Custom Edge Sports shortstop, won the Golden Globe award.

Ethan Lans of Custom Edge Sports was the top hitter, posting a .522 batting average.

Joining Walker on the al-star team were: first base – Ryan Baptiste, Prince Albert; second base – Dan Watson, Prince Albert; third base – Chris Bear, Prince Albert; catcher – RJ Cyr, Prince Albert; right fielder – Matthew Strongeagle, Regina; centre fielder – Ron Cote, Regina; left fielder – Montana, Regina. Al McNab of Regina was chosen as the top coach. Body text goes here.

CITIZEN PHOTOS BY JAMES DOYLE TOP: The Falcon Contracting Little Chiefs took on the Secwepemc Saints on Saturday morning at the minor boy’s field in a round-robin game at the 50th annual Canada Day Fastpitch tournament.

ABOVE LEFT: Big Guy Lake Kings player Randy Potskin swings at a Driftpile LTA Cree pitch on Saturday afternoon at Spruce City Stadium as the two teams met in a round-robin game at the 50th annual Canada Day Fastpitch tournament.

LEFT: Big Guy Lake Kings player Craig Pidcock winds up for a pitch against Driftpile LTA Cree on Saturday afternoon.

ABOVE RIGHT: Custom Edge Sports player Josh Anderson winds up for a pitch aganst the Canoe Lake Cree 45 on Saturday morning at Spruce City Stadium.

ABOVE LEFT: Custom Edge Sports player Nic Potskin takes a swing at a Canoe Lake Cree 45 pitch on Saturday morning at Spruce Ctiy Stadium as the two teams met in a round-robin game.

ABOVE RIGHT: Big Guy Lake Kings player Eli Jules sends the ball into the outfield against Driftpile LTA Cree on Saturday afternoon.