Jacks crowned Fastballfest champs
by Jackie Dempster-O'Halloran/The Scugog Standard

The Port Perry Lake Scugog Lumberjacks Bantam Fastball team played their first tournament of the season and came up big winners as they went undefeated in Mitchell, Ontario and were crowned the Bantam Fastballfest Champions. With over 90 teams taking part in this event, it makes it one of the largest tournaments in Ontario.
_First up for the Lumberjacks was the New Hamburg Heat. Layne O’Halloran, Ryan Jones and Jesse Simmons blasted home runs to help Port Perry to a 12-0 victory. The entire Jacks’ pitching staff combined effort yielded a one hit game.
_Next up for Port Perry was the Tavistock Athletics, once again the game was pretty much one sided as the Jacks got out to a early lead and never looked back. Clayton Robinson had two hits and three RBIs in the game and Cody Till hit a solid triple to centre field to make easy work of the Athletics. Starting pitcher Jeff St. Pierre and reliever Ryan Jones combined for two hits, zero earned runs in this contest, with a final score of 10-3.
_As luck would have it, the Lumberjacks third game was called after two innings of play due to inclement weather. The game was rescheduled for the following day, but unfortunately the Shakespeare team decided to forfeit the match.
_In semi-final action, Port Perry faced a strong Grand Valley team. Grand Valley took an early three run lead as the top of their order provided to be aggressive batters. Completing seven innings of play and the score tied at 4 each, the game needed to be decided by way of international rules. Grand Valley added two runs as the Jacks committed a couple infield errors. With the pressure on, the Lumberjacks’ Trent Cooper hit a ball up the middle cashing in a run. Next up Dylan Smith’s timely hit wins the game for Port and advances them to the finals. Picking up the win for the Jacks was number 44 Jeff St. Pierre with 14 strike outs in the game.
_The Lumberjacks faced a familiar foe in the finals as they took on Teeswater (a.k.a. Chepstow). Port Perry was swinging the bats well in this game breezing to a 6-1 lead after five innings of play, leading the way was Jeff St. Pierre and Brandon Griffin both with three hits. In the 7th inning, Teesewater tied up the score as the top of their order delivered with some solid hits. Port Perry true to form didn’t give up and with two out and a runner on third, a pass-ball allows Matt Reid to come in with a hard slide at the plate for the game winner. Getting the win for the Jacks is Jeff St. Pierre in a real nail-biter.
_Please mark your calendars for Saturday, July 14, as Port Perry Minor Softball will be celebrating their 50th anniversary. There will be a big bash at the Lakefront with festivities going on all day!