Kentville won the Atlantic championships in Newfoundland recently. From left, in front, are Ben Foley, Micah McDowell, Seth Routledge, Bryce Dauphinee and Jayden Oickle. In the middle are Ethan MacDougall, James Waaler, Kyle Woodworth, John Piers, Ben McNutt, Tyson Slaunwhite, Jack Forsythe and Bryce Oliver. In back are coaches Dave McDowell, Geoff Piers, Jason MacDougall and Jodye Routledge. - Submitted
By John DeCoste
The Kentville Peewee AA Wildcats have added the 2013 Atlantic Peewee AA baseball championship to the provincial title they won last month.
The Wildcats, according to Jodye Routledge, one of their coaches, “dominated” the Atlantic tournament Sept. 13-15 in Grand Falls-Windsor, NL, going undefeated at 4-0 and outscoring their opponents 54-1.
Joining the Wildcats in the four-team tournament were Paradise, the Newfoundland and Labrador champions; Richmond, P.E.I.; and the host team, Grand Falls-Windsor.
Kentville 3-0 in round robin
In their opener, the Wildcats blanked Paradise by a 17-0 score. Tyson Slaunwhite was chosen Player of the Game
“Everyone hit. It was a real team effort,” said Routledge.
Kentville’s second game was more of the same as the Wildcats topped Grand Falls-Windsor 16-0. Outfielder Bryce Dauphinee was chosen Player of the Game.
In the final round robin game, the Wildcats topped Richmond 11-1, surrendering “the only run we allowed in the tournament.” Catcher Bryce Oliver was named Player of the Game.
Shut-Out in final
Advancing to the final against Grand Falls-Windsor, Kentville scored yet another shutout, this time winning 10-0. As had been the case in their opening game, pitcher Slaunwhite earned Player of the Game honours again.
“We outscored out opponents 54-1, our pitchers allowed just eight hits in four games, and we didn’t commit a single error on defence in the entire tournament,” Routledge said.
The Wildcats were well represented among the major tournament award winners. Slaunwhite was named Top Pitcher, James Waaler Top Defensive Player and Micah McDowell was tournament MVP.
Industrious kids
After winning provincials, the Wildcats had faced the daunting task of raising the money to travel to Atlantics in a relatively short time. Through a combination of “hard work by the kids” and the generosity of some local sponsors, the team was able to raise the approximately $17,000 needed to make the trip.
On behalf of fellow coaches Dave McDowell, Geoff Piers and Jason MacDougall, Routledge stressed how proud he was of all the Kentville players, and also pointed out that Grand Falls-Windsor had done “an outstanding job of hosting.”
