Bloordale’s Bantam Select team has done it again winning Oakville’s inaugural Canada Day Classic capitalizing on strong pitching performances and some key run production when it counted.
In the first four games, the team only gave up one run while scoring 14 to go 3-0-1.
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Related story: BANTAMS WIN FOREST GLEN TOURNAMENT
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Friday night games were cancelled due to rain so everything started early Saturday morning against the Brampton Blue Jays. The team started slow in the first inning but came out strong in the second and third to shut Brampton out and mercy them 10–0 in four.
The second game was against East Nepean. They were a strong contender with strong pitching and a good defense. Bloordale fought hard the whole game with limited hits on both sides. In the third, Arjay was hit by a pitch, stole second, and moved to third on a pass ball. This set the stage for Matt to single to left field to drive home the only run of the game for Bloordale. The game continued as a low-hit, pitchers duo with Subhaan on the mound and Nepean pitchers were not giving anything up either. The game stayed 1-0 until the sixth when after a pitching change Napean capitalized on a walk, stolen base and double to tie the game. The game stayed deadlocked at 1-1 to the finish.
The third game was against Forest Glen. This again was a strong pitching match with Logan on the mound. The only run scored was in the third when Subhaan reached base and got to second on a pass ball. The next batter grounded out moving Subhaan to third and Arjay hit a single to drive him home. Logan pitched 6 strong innings and then gave way to the pitch count. Arjay came in relief and held Forest Glen off the board and Bloordale won 1-0.
Now it was sit and wait to see if we make the semi finals and receive the word that we are in first as Nepean gave up 4 runs in their last game of the day so Bloordale wins on run differentiation. The game on Sunday morning was against the host, Oakville
A’s. It again was a hard fought battle that played out much like the first game we played them in the Forest Glen tournament. Subhaan was back on the mount and pitched well keeping the hitters off balance all game supported by some amazing defense. Bloordale was able to manufacture 2 runs in the third with A.P. reaching on a single then Arjay hitting a single right behind him all with two outs. Then Matt came to the plate and hit a single to drive home two runs. This was all the scoring and Subhaan completed the game at 91 pitches for the 2-0 win.
Bloordale is in the finals against a team from Niagara Falls, NY. This set up to be a great game as Niagara was the only undefeated team in the tournament. The first inning finished without a score as both teams threatened but nobody could cross
the plate. At the top of the second inning, Bloordale broke out with 7 runs on some timely hits and capitalizing some fielding errors. Cameron had some run support and was pitching well. Niagara chipped away here and there but never scored more then two runs in an inning. Bloordale had another big inning in the fourth scoring 6 runs. The game finished 14 -7 for Bloordale to win the tournament.
The victory marked the second consecutive tournament championship this season for the Bantams.