Williamsburg wrap up

from Lyle Schell

3rd Annual “Casey at Bat” Tournament Williamsburg, ON September 15, 16 & 17, 2006-09-18

At the start of last week we were worried that we were going to have to cancel the tournament as we had a few teams drop out in the two weeks preceeding the tournament and more teams were calling saying that they were going to have to pull out. Monday evening we received confirmation that the 6th team was in so we agreed that we could pull off a successful tournament with six teams and decided to go full speed ahead. We had another scare on Wednesday night when one of the six teams called to say that they had lost some players – thankfully, with a little leg work and phone calls by our committee and the team in question replacements were found and we were pressing on.

The tournament started on Friday night at 8:00 with the local team, the Williamsburg Cigars, playing North Augusta. The home team walked away with their first victory of the tournament, winning by a score of 13-5.

Play resumed on Saturday morning at 9:00 in the double knock out format (a team must lose two games to be eliminated from the tournament) seeing teams from Cornwall (2 teams), Carp and Quyon, Quebec. Our local boys lost their second game, played on Saturday at 3:00 against Carp (score 5-1) sending them to the losers bracket. The Williamsburg Cigars returned to the field on Sunday morning at 9:00 to begin their battle back to the top. They started off against North Augusta walking away with a victory (score 3-0). After a brief 20 minute rest they were on the field again facing the Quyon Flyers for the first time over the weekend, after trailing 3-0 in the first Jason Smith came in to pitch in spite of injuries and brought the team back. The game went into extra innings (the 7th inning ended with a 4-4 score) when Williamsburg jumped ahead scoring 6 unanswered runs in the 9th to win the game 10 – 4. Williamsburg now had to face the undefeated I 4 C team from Carp that put them in the losers bracket on Saturday. The tired and sore team pulled together and played with determination giving all the support they could to Jason Smith who was throwing his heart out for his home team. The boys climbed on the score board with a single run in the second inning. Allen McNairn took away some of the pressure in the sixth inning when he hit it out of the park with two runners on base making the score 4-0. The Cigars held on to win the game forcing another show down against Carp due to the double knock out format. Another 20 minute break and both teams were back at it. This would be Williamsburg’s sixth game of the weekend, fourth for the day – all back to back! The team once again gave everything they had to support their injured pitcher Jason Smith and walked away as the proud tournament champions! Final score in that game was 6-2

Individual awards were given to the following players:
Top Hitter: Matt McNish, I 4 C Victory
Top Pitcher: Jason Smith, Williamsburg Cigars
Tournament MVP: Wayne Garlough, Williamsburg Cigars (Wayne was very consistent at bat with an average in the 300’s, and was error free for four games on short stop until he made one slight throwing error in the sixth, after being hit in the head/face with a hard throw home during the Williamsburg at bat while scoring a run. He shook off the throw and continued with his amazing play for the remaining inning and a half).

The Second Place team was I 4 C Victory from Carp, ON. They walked away with a $450 monetary prize and will have their names on the tournament trophy.

The First Place team was the Williamsburg Cigars from Williamsburg, ON. All players on the team were born and raised in South Dundas – they were either coached by Casey Schell at some point or simply learned from him via being on an opposing team. All were proud to be there to represent him and show appreciation to man who’s memory will remain alive in this tournament! The winning team was awarded $850.

We estimate that there were approximately 400 people in attendance over the weekend (based on admissions collected) not counting the volunteers and players. The proceeds from the tournament are going to be given to graduates of Seaway High School in the form of a bursary.

Details are still being worked out with the vice principal, but it is the intention of the committee to give one bursary to the top male athlete of the year in memory of Keith “Casey” Schell, and one to the top female athlete of the year in memory of Michael Steward. (Michael is a family member that passed away last year during the weekend of the tournament in a motor vehicle accident)

We have a few remaining details to take care of with the finances before we can confirm 100%, but we estimate that the bursaries will be between $400 and $500 each.

This amazing weekend could not have been possible without the support of volunteers. We're very pleased to say that our family shares our enthusiasm in keeping Grandpa's memory alive as do some very dear friends. A huge thank you goes out to the Schell family, McNairn family, Hutt family, Jamie Smith, Heather Wells-Baker, Bobby-Jack Hart, Angie Merkley, Jessica Bercier, Greg & Kelly DeDekker, Sherry Beckstead, Steffanie Garlough and the Morrisburg Pentecostal Church Women's Ministries Group.

The committee is discussing holding the tournament earlier in the year next year in hopes of attracting more teams and not battling as many injuries. Our hopes are to increase the tournament to 10 - 12 teams next year and award prizes of $1000, $600 & $400.
Hope to see you next year!