Late push carries U16s to second place
Solid performances across the roster and consistent pitching played key roles, coach says
By Joel Wittnebel/The Oshawa Express
The 16U Oshawa elite Legionaires ended their regular season with an undefeated stretch of five games, an effort that carried them into second place.
Dating back to a July 27 10-0 trouncing of the Hamilton Cardinals, the Legionaires have since defeated the Whitby Chiefs 9-4 on July 28, the Stouffville Yankees 14-0 on Aug. 3 and the North Toronto As 7-3 on Aug. 14. The club ended their regular season with an 8-8 tie with the Mississauga North Tigers at Kinsmen Stadium.
Now, according to head coach Ken Babcock, the team is eyeing down a run at the Baseball Ontario Championships in Hamilton over the Labour Day weekend.
“Our goal all season long was to peak in time for a run at an Ontario Championship,” Babcock says in an emailed statement to The Oshawa Express.
Down the stretch, the club has seen strong play all down the bench, Babcock says, noting the “team coming together at the right time,” has been a key factor.
However, it has been the arms on the mound that have made all the difference.
“Pitching consistency has been key,” Babcock says.
Impressive efforts were put up by several player in the club’s big wins.
In the team’s 14-0 victory over Stouffville, Connor Cavanagh allowed only two hits through six innings pitched. On Aug. 14 against North Toronto, Lucas Gilbert struck out 10 batters in only four innings on the way to Oshawa’s 7-3 victory.
With the final games of the EBLO regular season wrapping up in the coming weeks, Oshawa sees themselves holding down sole possession of second place with a 13-6-1 record, behind the first place Etobicoke Rangers, who hold an 18-2-1 record.