Adam Prudhomme
Editor
For a second year in a row the Napanee U17 Express found their way onto the national podium, capturing bronze at the Canadian Fast Pitch Championships in Fredericton, N.B.
Napanee entered the tournament looking to repeat after rolling their way to gold last year as the U15 level. They were in good shape to do that, reaching the semifinal game on the final day of the tournament, one win away from a return to the finals.
Unfortunately for them, their bid came up just short with a 7-4 loss to the Tara Twins.
Both teams came out swinging with seven combined runs scored in the opening two frames. Deke Osterhout got the Express rolling with a bases-loaded, three run double in the first.
The Twins responded with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first and continued to chip away, picking up two more in the second to take a 4-3 lead. They didn’t look back from there, hanging on for the 7-4 victory and advancing to the finals while the Express’ tournament run came to an end. The Twins would go on to defeat the PDP Lightning to win national gold. The Lightning entered that game having not lost a game all season.
“The coaches were really proud of how far the team has progressed this season,” said Express head coach Scott Thompson. “The players worked extremely hard. We also have a great supportive parent group that understands the game, which is extremely helpful as coaches. The Canadian Championship tournament had the team moving players in and out as pinch runners, hitters and defensive replacements. I applaud all of our players for their positive outlook when they were in and out of games and the encouragement for players replacing them. We have a great group and are very proud of them all.”
Express players Dylan Kemp and Luke Paul were named to the tournament’s all-star team.
Napanee entered the playoff round in third place after going 4-2 in round robin play.
They got off to a scorching start, beating Quebec 7-1 on the strength of a 2-for-3 game from both Bryce Rebertz and Kayden Thompson. Kemp earned the win from the pitcher’s circle.
Napanee suffered a setback in their second game, falling 4-3 to Newfoundland.
Finn Barton gave the Express an early lead with an RBI groundout. After seeing Newfound take the lead in the top of the sixth, Kemp ignited a rally with a single that led to the tying run crossing the plate.
Still tied after seven, the game went to extras, where Newfoundland’s Jacob LeDrew drove in a pair to put the team up 4-2. Though Napanee was able to scratch across a run in their half of the inning, it wasn’t enough.
Napanee was able to shake off that loss and rebounded with a 5-1 win over the host New Brunswick Selects in their third game. Carter Wright, Matthew Airhart, and Derek Li combined for five of the team’s nine hits in the victory. They scored three runs and drove in two. Owen Kish singled in the second to make it 4-0. Wright earned the win.
In their fourth game the Express were forced to play catch up after falling behind the Twins 5-0 in the first inning. The Express battled and made a game of it, but ultimately wound up losing 12-10.
Napanee was able to take an 8-7 lead courtesy of hits from Paul and Kaden Fowler, but the Twins offense was just too much. Barton cranked a three-run homer in the losing effort.
Napanee again was able to put a difficult loss behind them by the time the next game rolled around as they thumped the Nova Scotia Brookfield Elks 18-0.
Paul connected on a grand slam to centrefield, part of a five RBI game.
The Express scored eight runs on four hits in the top of the third inning. Kemp doubled, scoring one run, Rebertz drew a bases-loaded walk, Barton to hit into a RBI fielder’s choice, Nathan MacDonald doubled, scoring two runs, Paul singled, scoring two runs, and Osterhout singled, scoring one run.
Napanee had their second shot at the Twins on the second last day of the tournament and they were up to the task, defeating Tara 4-3.
Down a run in the seventh, McDonald battled for eight pitches before finally delivering the game tying RBI, helping the team to the 4-3 victory. Kemp allowed three runs, one earned, over seven innings with five strikeouts.
Napanee kept rolling with a 4-3 win over Saskatchewan, powered by two triples from Paul and an RBI double from Fowler.
Napanee advanced to the semifinals with a 4-0 win over Quebec. Kemp helped out his own cause, opening the scoring with a triple, later coming around to score. That was the only run he’d need as he shutdown the Quebec offense with just six hits allowed with no runs scored over seven innings.