No rest on Sunday as Kelly’s Pub claims national championship
Newfoundland reps posts three wins in one day — all pitched by Mark Power — en route to a third title in six years
Kelly’s Pub Junior Canadians pitcher Mark Power was a little shaky to start the week at the national junior (under-21) softball championships, giving up nine walks in an openinggame loss. But on Sunday the ace of the team representing Newfoundland and Labrador’s was brilliant as he tossed three straight wins on Sunday — including 5-3 victory over the host Owen Sound, Ont., Selects in the championship game — as the Junior Canadians won their third national title in six years.
“Mark seemed to get better and the ball seemed to move for him a bit more when he was a bit tired versus when he was strong,” says Crocker. “(He) really threw well today.” Power went the distance in Sunday’s championship game, giving up two earned runs on four hits and one walk with four strikeouts. Like Junior Canadians pitching alumni Sean Cleary (2006) and Mike Noftall (2009) before him, Power was named the championship-round MVP.
Power threw three games in one day after a two-day rain delay forced Softball Canada to reschedule all games until Sun-
Kelly’s Pub manager Ross day. Moreover, all but the championship game were limited to five innings, so Power was able to save his arm in abbreviated playoff wins over the Walkerton, Ont., Wild (7-3) and Owen Sound (5-3) prior the championship final, where they met the host team for the second time in one day. . “That was a blessing,” says Crocker of the shortened contests. It wasn’t just Power who helped get the job done for the Junior Canadians on Sunday, Crocker says the team’s veterans delivered timely hits to put runs on the board while getting great defence in the field.
“Alex Power, our second baseman, made two or three outstanding plays today,” says Crocker.
Since 2006, when the Kelly’s Pub program began, the team has finished fourth three times (2008, 2010, 2011), claimed silver once (2007), and, including this year, have won three gold medals (2006, 2009) at nationals. Prior to 2006, only two teams — the 1974 Placentia Intertown crew and the 1975 St. John’s Caps — won national junior crowns..
The Junior Canadians have played in the St. John’s senior league since 2006 and Crocker says success on the national level wouldn’t be possible without the experience gained at the local level.
“(Owen Sound) started Michael Legace- Roote, ranked as one of the top pitcher in the country in the age group, but with our senior league experience and the pitchers we face at home, there’s no one going to throw the ball past us. Our hitting against the better pitching up here was better than the other team’s hitting against our good pitching.”
In the title-clinching win over Owen Sound, Power hit a solo home run, tournament all-star Jeremy O’Reilly had two RBI singles, and Shane Bolan, named top player in the championship game, had two hits, including a home run.
Other members of the championship team are Jeff Conway, Rylee Costello, Daniel Dalton, Stephen Dobbin, Johnny Doyle, Tyrone Fewer, Andrew Gale, Eddie Hefferan, Jeremy Hickey, Mark Kavanagh, Ryan Kirk, Troy Leonard, Alex Power, and Colin Walsh. The coaches are Jeff Kirk and Wally Power.
National midget championship
The Newfoundland and Labrador Selects were the best of the worst as they finished first in the consolation round — ninth overall — at the national midget softball championships this weekend in Fredericton, N.B.
Winning pitcher Colby Murphy (4R, 5K) scattered four hits and five walks over seven innings as the Selects doubled up the Nelson, N.B., Vics in Saturday afternoon’s consolation final. Phillip Corbett was twofor-two with two RBI to lead the Selects. Riley Kenny and Brad Lewis both scored twice.
In their first consolation round contest, Corbett hit an RBI-double in the eight inning to score Ryan King as the Selects edged the Prince Albert, Sask., Astros 13-12.
Outfielder Brandon Pomroy was named to the tournament’s all-star team. He hit .389 with four runs over seven games.