Smiths Falls Peewees win provincial select title

from the Smiths Falls EMC

Smiths Falls Redmen dominate to capture peewee selects provincial softball championship


By Stacey Roy

The Smiths Falls Redmen Fastball Peewee Selects team's strategy to win the recent provincial tournament in Georgian Bay was simple - play hard, play smart and leave them in their dust.

"They didn't give anybody a chance," said coach Tom Burchill.

Throughout the five-game Ontario Amateur Softball Association (OASA) provincial tournament held Aug. 18 in Georgian Bay, the area team of 13 and 14 year-old players allowed 13 runs while making 52 runs of their own against some of the best teams around. Burchill said the high caliber of athletes did help the local players in one respect.

"Your competition brings you up," he said.

The Smiths Falls Redmen established their dominance early on in the tournament. Three round robin games were played to kick off the day-long event with scores of 8-1, 10-1 and 12-1 posted in favour of the local team.

Burchill credits the entire team for the results that day, giving special mention to the team's strong catchers and pitchers. One pitcher recorded 29 strike outs that day. Other team members experienced personal bests by achieving a home run or two and pushing their batting to new limits.

"That made their tournament," he said.

This performance earned them a spot in the semi-finals and then the final game against the highly respected Topham Park team from Toronto. The team knew gold was within their reach and resolved not to give their seasoned opponents a chance to get ahead from the first pitch.

The final game was by far the highlight of the tournament when the Redmen Selects pushed six runs across the plate in one inning and eight in another!

"It was beautiful," Burchill remarked.

The final score was 14-6 for the home team.

This is the first gold the team has received from this tournament in the four years the Redmen have been competing. Last year they earned a bronze with only one loss in the tournament. The year before they brought home a silver medal.

Burchill said four years ago the team came on the scene as unknowns. It's safe to say the name Smiths Falls has gained some recognition now.

A couple of exhibition games will wrap up the season for these peewees. The Smiths Falls Redmen Fastball Peewee Selects team is made up of players from Smiths Falls, Athens, Lyn, North Augusta and Johnstown.