Adam Prudhomme
Beaver Staff
Not even a 12 hour relay delay could slow down the host Napanee AFW Express at the U19 Men’s Canadian Fast Pitch Championships, as they topped the Caledonia-Haldimand Athletics 3-1 this morning to move to 4-0 at the tournament.
The game was originally scheduled to take take at 8 p.m. last night but was pushed to 8 a.m. this morning due to rain.
Once the game finally got underway, it was a battle of aces as Napanee’s Riley Manion out-duelled Nick Ford.
The Athletics got on the board in the top of the second when Jack Phibbs circled the bases on an inside the park home run. That hit would be the only only Manion would allow over seven innings.
Napanee responded the next inning when Tucker Firth connected for a two-run home run. They tacked on a huge insurance run in the sixth when Andrew Tucker singled in a run.
Napanee’s next game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. this afternoon against the Prince Albert Astros. They are also scheduled to face the Delisle Poly Plus Pride tonight at 8 p.m.
The Express and the Astros remain as the only undefeated teams at the tournament. Newfoundland and Caledonia-Haldimand sit tied for second at 3-1.
Through the first four games Manion has allowed just one run in 20.2 innings while striking out 36.
At the dish Firth leads the way with two home runs and eight RBI, followed by Brendan Hagerman with six RBI and Finn Pierce with four. Hagerman and Pierce have each also collected a team high eight hits.