BA Blacktop Bantams ended up on top at the recent Sechelt Minor Soft-ball year-end tournament.
Early favourite Source for Sports and Dryland Marine went down in semi-final play, leaving Inlet Raiders and BA to face each other in the championship game.
The ballpark was busy, the smell of hot dogs in the air. Scattered showers throughout the day kept infield dust to a minimum, with spectators coming out from under a canopy of umbrellas to cheer their favourite team in the soft afternoon breeze.
Extra innings in the preceding game pushed anticipation into play as the Raiders and BA took the field. It wasn’t until the fourth inning that BA broke loose with the power of their offensive game, scoring eight quick runs and pulling decisively ahead. Surprisingly, the outcome was still undecided; with raiding forays into BA territory leaving the score tied at the end of seven innings.
It took two extra innings of international rules before BA pitcher Brennan Mayers earned a most inspirational player award for the game by batting Slade Watts home for the game winner.
Therin Hemstalk was awarded most inspirational player for the Raiders.
Coach Danny Mayers reports that what impressed him the most was the way BA played as a unified team.
In the squirt division, Claytons capped off another dominant year defeating StarTek in the final.
Coach Richard Sallows continues to have the hot hand, as this is the second year in a row his Claytons team has looked very sharp in winning the year-end tournament. Brenna McLean provided outstanding pitching while Sarah Davison had a couple big hits to keep the offence rolling.
In the peewee division, strong pitching was again the story, as Jordan Robinson boggled hitters all year. His BC First Aid team was able to take first in the round robin and went on to down an exhausted Flemming & Sombrowski team that had to take the long route to the final.
Sechelt Minor Softball continues to thrive thanks to the passionate athletes, dedicated volunteers and umpires. The association would also like to thank the incredible team sponsors, the District of Sechelt for keeping the fields in great shape for the tournament, and Tara Franken for taking over the weekend concession and accessing Scotiabank’s Team Community Program which matched all funds raised.
— Submitted
