The Calderwood Automation U10 Napanee Express Mite Boys had another remarkable performance over the weekend, going 3-0 to claim top spot in the 2017 U10 Boys OASA Eastern Ontario Regional Qualifiers in Fitzroy Harbour, ON.
They started the tournament on Saturday morning with a 13-0 mercy over Curve Lake. Deke Osterhout popped a home run at first at-bat to set the tone early. Matthew Airhart then doubled to score Owen Kish and Kayden Thompson. In the fourth the Express opened up a seven run rally led off by Mackenzie Pichie with a single. Osterhout, Kish and DiFazio chimed in with doubles while Airhart had a triple. Tivon James and Cameron Cuthill also pitched in with singles.
Game 2 saw them take West Carleton by a score of 12-2. After a slow start in the first inning, the second saw West Carleton make some errors allowing the Express to score three. They didn’t look back from there. Osterhout started a rally with a double. Thompson connected on a home run to score Kish and Dylan Kemp.
The final game of the day didn’t prove to be any more of a challenge as they defeated Springbrook 19-2. DiFazio went 4-4 with three singles and a double. Thompson had another big game as he went 3-4 with a home run, double and a triple. Airhart also went 3-4 with a home run, single and a double. Mason Pichie pitched in with a triple. His brother Mackenzie added a single and a double. Despite being hit by pitches in every game, Logan Willis persevered to have a strong showing in the tournament.
Express pitching was top-notch as Kemp had 19 strike outs in nine innings pitched. Kayden Thompson had 13 strike outs in five innings pitched. Undeterred by the heat of the day, Kish was stellar behind the plate.
Despite their lack of a league, this group of boys have had success against all of their mite competition in tournament play.
They’ve been able to stay game ready thanks to the Barr Home U12 Napanee Express Squirt girls. who agreed to play exhibition games all year so that the boys could hone in on their skills.
The boys look to continue their winning as they advance to the 2017 OASA Provincial Mites Tournament Aug. 19-20 in Ponsonby, ON.