Over the Friday, July 14th to Sunday, July 16th weekend, the Soo 11U Black Sox participate in the 11U division in a tournament in Woodstock, Ontario.
on Friday, July 14th at 3:30 p.m in game one of round robin the Soo Black Sox met the Milton Mets where the Black Sox scored in all five innings before the game was called due to the mercy rule. The Soo won 13-3 with Maddox Guzzo picking up the win. In game two at 9:00 a.m on Saturday, July 15th in round robin action versus the Woodstock Wranglers, the Soo scored the maximum four runs an inning in defeating the Wranglers 16-1 in just four innings. Evan Hirvi pitched the complete game with just 44 pitches, giving up three hits. In their second game of day and third in round robin at 4:30 p.m against the Burlington Bears, the Black Sox bats stayed hot as the Sox again put up the four run max in the first three innings. The Soo secured top spot in their pool with a 12-2 victory. Jonathan Pavoni picked up the win.
On Sunday, July 16th at 10:00 a.m in the semi – final for the Soo, the Black Sox faced the Ingersoll Ironbirds with Devon Grbich, Mitchell McLeod, and Colton Daynard combined for 10 strike-outs, 1 hit, and 6 BB’s in the 12-2 semi-final win. At 1:00 p.m in the championship games against the Martingrove White Sox on Sunday afternoon, Grbich & McLeod were able to take the hill again and combined for 13 strike-outs, 1 hit, and 3 BB’s in the 11-1 championship victory. Other team members who played well all weekend include Bryce Balgue, Brayden Morley, Jack O’Neill, Evan Reynolds, Matthew Stocco, and Oliver Tibbles.
Coach Steve McLeod told Saultsports that “the execution by the players this past weekend was very good. It wasn’t just our pitching that was a highlight, it was our hitting and defensive play that stayed consistent over the three days as well. Every player contributed to the tournament win.”
“We’ve been practicing together as a team now since mid-April, and the improvements each player has made are tremendous. We now need them to continue to work hard and focus in practice over the next seven weeks as we gear up for one final tournament,” added McLeod.
Final tournament of the season will be August 18-20 in Valley East followed by the 2023 OBA Provincials in Hamilton, Ontario over the Labour Day weekend.
