U18 Bearcats go back-to back

Truro team rolls to 5-0 record en route to winning a second straight provincial championship

e Truro Bearcats U18 AAA baseball team captured its second straight Baseball Nova Scotia championship after a 5-3 victory over the Kentville Wildcats in the nal.

Connor Angers went 3-for-4 at the dish with two doubles, while Mackie Marquis and Nate Stone each added two hits. Luke Smith tripled and drove in a pair of runs and Parker Spencer added a hit. Tyler O’leary pitched the win and struck out six.

In a semi nal, Truro doubled the Dartmouth Arrows 6-3. Angers went 3-for-4 with a triple, while Stone and Smith went 2-for-4 and Zack Betts and Dawson Briggs singled. Chad Russell got the win on the mound.

e Bearcats opened the tourney with a 10-5 win over the Hammonds Plains A’s. Spencer doubled and singled, Connor Irwin doubled and Mats Stone, Nate Stone, Betts, Briggs and Marquis each contributed a hit. Russell and O’leary shared duties on the mound.

In an 11-1 triumph over the Halifax Mets, Zack Betts went

3-for-4 and Russell knocked out two singles and drove in four runs. Lucas Watson struck out six and earned the win.

The Cape Breton Ramblers were the next to fall to the Bearcats by a 9-1 score. Tanner Greatorex doubled and singled and had two RBI, while Spencer, Irwin and Nate Stone shared duties on the mound.

e provincial title capped a great season for the Bearcats, who also won the National Elimination tournament in July to earn a berth at the Canadian championship in For Mcmurray, Alta.

While Bearcats didn’t fare as well in the win column at nationals, the young athletes represented themselves and their

community very well.

Truro dropped its opening game 11-2 to Manitoba and followed with a

9-8 loss to Alberta – a game in which the tenacious ‘Cats came back twice from four- and tworun de cits to set up a thrilling nish.

e Bearcats lost to Ontario 2 by a 4-0 count, and lost by the

same margin to host Fort McMurray.

e coaching sta was proud of the team and how players performed on

the field against some very high-calibre competition.

e Bearcats expressed their gratitude to community partners and local businesses who helped the team get to Fort Mcmurray.

SUBMITTED Make it back-to-back provincial titles for the Truro Bearcats U18 baseball team. The Bearcats posted a 5-0 record and defeated the Kentville Wildcats 5-3 in the gold medal game. Members of the Bearcats are, front row, from left, Zack Betts, Mackie Marquis, Nate Stone, Connor Angers, Mats Stone, Dawson Briggs and Lucas Watson; second row, head coach Greg Marquis, Parker Spencer, Tyler O’leary, Kenzee Rushton, coach John Russell, Luke Smith, Connor Irwin, Tanner Greatorex, Chad Russell, Brady Rushton, coach Curtis Briggs and coach dean Angers.