Upcoming OASA minor tournaments

There are a few Ontario Amateur Softball Association provincial tournaments for minor boys softball upcoming in the next two weeks.

In Belleville this coming weekend, the Squirt (U12) A/B provincials with twelve teams participating. Napanee is entered but no teams from this end of the province.

On August 16-17 weekend, the Peewee (U14) A provincials will be played in Tavistock with eight teams, including Napanee. In Ponsonby the B/C tournament will be played with nine teams. No peewee teams are from this area.

Also on August 16-17 are the Mites (U10) provincials in Springbrook. There will be eight teams attending, including two from Napanee and a team from the Augusta league with representation from towns such as Westport and Athens. Also in the line up for the Augusta team is the Caveman, making his OASA debut.

To say the Caveman is excited about the event would be an understatement. He has the schedule memorized and big plans for success. Caveman pitches in the West Carleton house league and the WC mite select team, but this is his first big test at the "rep" level. He played in a couple of rep games last month and that was eye opening for him to realize the level at which some youngsters at this age can play. As the fastest pitcher in his local league and in the local select circuit, he wasn't used to hitting against a very speedy chucker. So we have been working in the yard and at the diamond for him to get his timing down at the plate.

Last week I had the milk crate full of balls and was windmilling them as fast I could at him from 30 feet (mites pitching distance). He was making good contact and I was praising him, telling him if he kept this up he would hit well at the provincials. However, he was unconvinced....

"Daddy, no offense, but the big kid from Napanee throws way faster than you!"

Sadly, that's probably true; out-pitched by a 10 year old!