The Lucan-Ilderton Major Rookie team put their skills on display this past weekend at the annual Bob Stark Rookieball Tournament in London.
In this "A" division tournament that featured teams from Aurora, Stratford, Waterloo, London, and Whitby, the Lucan-Ilderton Athletics played hard and challenged some top Major Rookie teams in the province over two days of entertaining baseball.
In their first game of the weekend, our A's squad showed their fight and determination against a very strong Aurora Blue Jays team. The boys defensive skills were on display throughout the game, with the combination of Nate, Noah, and Blake teaming up to make a terrific defensive play in the first inning to shut down an early Jays rally. Will, Noah, Keaton, and Logan showed superb defense throughout the game to limit the Blue Jays bats to 5 runs over the first 4 innings and kept the A's within striking distance. With their "never quit" attitude, Lucan-Ilderton managed to fight back in this game, led by key run scoring kits from Luke, Andrew, and Ethan to tie this game in the 6th inning and set up an exciting 7th inning, which due Friday night storms, would be completed some 19 hours later.......
The A's lost game two of the tournament to Waterloo early Saturday afternoon.
..............the stage was now set for the completion of the suspended game against Aurora, with an epic 7th inning looming as both teams were ready for this pivotal deciding inning. The visiting Blue Jays had first bat, but outstanding defense by the A's kept them scoreless, highlighted by a run-saving sliding grab by Mason at second base to give the A's a chance to win with their turn to bat coming up. With the pressure high, the A's bats were alive in the bottom of the 7th, with key hits by Luke, Noah and Logan, however, some terrific defense by the Blue Jays kept the runners from scoring and this entertaining game ended in a 5-5 tie and gave both teams their first point of the tournament.
In game three, Lucan-Ilderton came prepared to play with lots of energy and excitement and were ready for the host London West Tincaps team. As he did throughout the tournament, William got the offence started for the A's with solid hitting and aggressive base running, and the A's took the lead in the 1st inning of this semi-final showdown, with Blake adding another key run in the second inning. As both teams settled in, defense took over, and the A's gloves were solid as Nate made great catches in left field while Ethans glove was just as solid throughout the game on the pitchers mound. The Tincaps bats came alive in the 3rd and 5th innings, as they took the lead with a 4 run 5th inning; however, it could have been even worse for the A's if not for a diving catch in right field by Keaton to end the inning with two runners on. Just as they did in game one of the tournament, the A's showed they don't give up, and put together a strong rally in the bottom of the 5th, with key hits by Mason and Luke, and highlighted by a 3-run home run by Noah to get the A's back in the game. Andrew continued his hot hitting in the tournament by following this home run with a hard liner to left field to keep the rally going. In the end, the A's ran out of time and lost to the strong London team 11-5.
All of the boys should be proud of the efforts this weekend as they took on some very talented teams from around the province. The A's hope to keep their momentum going as they return to league play this week with a home and home series against St. Mays.