The fastball season came to a close July 17 to 19 in Sooke with the Sechelt Sluggers claiming a midget boys provincial title.
A collection of B.C.'s best, the championships kicked off with a random draw Thursday, July 16, for the open category round-robin. The Sluggers drew games against Langford, Fleetwood, Kitimat and Sooke.
After some fierce competition in round robin play, the Sluggers went into game two of the finals on Sunday, July 19, one game down. With the championship on the line, the boys came alive and stormed their way into a decisive win.
After pitching a winning game earlier in the tournament, Lucas Hayward pounded two home runs over the left-field fence.
Sechelt threw everything they had into it, with fielder Terrence Tang refusing to be held back by the ugly gash received to his stomach when colliding with the left field fence.
Qasim Kahn used his versatility as a player to great advantage, moving in and out of infield and outfield positions with ease.
The Sluggers started out strong in the final game of the championship, with Danny Newton leading off the batting order with one of the highest on-base averages of the tournament. Jason Gordon had taken a pitch in the knee, and been struck on the hand while batting in a previous game, but managed to stay on his feet to pitch the winning game. Dylan McLeod pounded a home run over the fence, with Corey Bergnach making a diving catch in the field in what would otherwise have been a dangerous situation for the Sluggers, with runners in scoring position on base.
The heavy hitters of the Kitimat Rockies, lead by veteran coach Don Markwart, rallied late in the game, but could not match the powerful drive of the energized Sluggers.
Ben Drugmand kept the momentum alive with a home run, after catching a blistering line drive at first. The Sluggers used the bunt to excellent advantage, with Rhys Amber laying it down the first base line, and with the distraction of a runner on third, rounding first to make it safely to second. Shortstop Colton Vaughn played solidly all tournament, with a number of home runs and extraordinary all around skill, and he and catcher Dagan Benner, who batted a stand up triple, held runners from stealing bases with his powerful throw, and made some outstanding tags at home. Both were invited to play for B.C. in the Canadian Western Championships in early August.
Coaches Colleen Vaughn and Tim Hayward have a style of coaching that incorporates competitive drive and basic skill development, with a strong focus on personal character development. Vaughn, formerly an accomplished fastpitch catcher herself, credits the success of this team in part to the support of the Sechelt Minor Softball Association, and by extension the supporters of that association in this community, but mostly, to the dedication, skill and unrelenting drive of the athletes themselves.
Team manager Ann Hayward, brainchild of the former Sunshine Coast Recreation Complex Society and long time leader in the Sechelt Minor Softball Association, commented on how well the boys played, and through their dedication and sportsmanship, how well they represented themselves and the Sunshine Coast.
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