Port Perry’s first match up would have them taking on the Springbrook Royals.  To say the least this game was pretty much one sided, it was over in 4 innings with the Jacks taking it by a score of 18-1.  Ryan Jones pitched 3 innings giving up one earned run on 3 hits and closer Brandon Griffen finished off the Royals in the final inning.  At the plate Corey Crosby and Cody Till went 3 for 3 and Dylan Smith, Ryan Jones and Patrick Fiorino had 2 hits on the night helping the Jacks to an easy victory.

Due to the rain delay, the boys sat for an entire day before their next game, which was against Chepstow Lightning a team nobody knew much about exempt that they just beat one of the best teams at the tournament.  Jeff St. Pierre took the mound for the Jacks and pitched 6 innings giving up 3 runs on 6 hits and striking out 7 batters.  The game started with a spark as Jared Weisher was ejected from the game for malicious contact against Port Perry’s catcher Layne O’Halloran in the first inning of play.  The match was very close with the Lightning holding a 1-0 lead up until the final inning of play.  Port Perry had base runners in each inning but could not take advantage of any of these opportunities.  Matt Wardrop, Chepstow’s pitcher threw a good game allowing no runs and giving up 3 hits and striking out 7 batters.  The Jacks lose by a score of 3-0 and have to start clawing their way back to the top of the pack.

Brantford Heat would be the next team up for Port Perry to take on.  Getting the start for the Jacks would be #21 Brandon Griffen who pitched 3 strong innings giving up 2 earned runs on some nicely placed hits.  Ryan Jones finished the final two innings giving up one hit and allowing no runs.  The Heat’s pitching could not hold the Jacks at the plate as they piled up 10 hits scoring 10 runs in the game.  Corey Crosby, Brandon Griffen, Jeff St. Pierre and Layne O’Halloran had multiple hits during the match up.  The Jacks finish off the Heat by a score of 10-2 on their long road back.

By far the best game in the tournament would be Port Perry taking on the Napanee Express.  The loser of this game would be going home and it was great to see that both teams played to their full potential.  Napanee decided to go with their right handed pitcher Jeremy Martin who was a heap of trouble for the Jacks back in Stratford beating them 4-0.  In the 2^nd inning Port Perry scored as Hunter Davidson cashed in Jeff St. Pierre, the Express threatened in the 5^th but a great catch in right field by Clayton Robinson squashed any hopes of tying up the game.  In the top of the 6^th Napanee did manage to even up the score on a couple solid base hits to left field.  With the score tied at one the Jacks desperately needed a run, Brandon Griffen hit a hard line drive up the middle to reach base and then Jeff St. Pierre hit a goliath drive to centre field for a triple to give the Jacks a one run cushion.  In the final inning the Express could not get it done and are eliminated by a final score of 2-1.  Jeff St. Pierre had a great game throwing 7 full innings, giving up one run and 5 hits in the game.

The next battle would include a very difficult opponent, the Jacks would have to face the New Hamburg Heat a team they have beaten only once in their long history.  Port Perry took a 3 run lead as they hit the Heat’s starter well, Matt Reid picked up two RBI’s in the inning on a double to centre field.  New Hamburg got on the board in the 2nd against St. Pierre as 2 runs scored on an infield error and a couple walks.  The Heat helped the Jacks cause in the 3^rd by making a few errors and giving up another double to Matt Reid and single to Hunter Davidson.  New Hamburg continued their drive in the 3^rd inning scoring 2 more runs on some nice hitting.  With the score 6-4 the Jacks cashed in 3 more runs in the 4^th making the task much more difficult for the Heat.  Ryan Jones quickly finished the final 2 innings for the Jacks giving up no hits.  Final score ends with a victory for the Jacks by a score of 11-4.  Most importantly, this win ensures a spot for the Lumberjacks to the Eastern Canadian Championship. 

Due to the double knock out rule the Jacks would have to beat the Chepstow Lightning team twice to win the tournament or Chepstow would have to defeat the Jacks once to obtain victory.  Surprisingly the Lightening went with their 2^nd string pitcher for this game.  Ryan Jones got the start for the Jacks and allowed one unearned run in the top of the first.  The Jacks picked up 2 in the bottom of the inning on a few base hits and a costly error by the 2^nd baseman.  Continuing on in the 2^nd two more runs crossed the plate on a couple walks and an error this time at third base.  Kyle Dickson and Jake Bricknell came in to score as the Jacks’ bats continued to be hot.  Port Perry’s Corey Crosby had another 3-3 game batting .571 in the tournament.  In the 6^th Chepstow managed to score a run on a couple singles to right field.  Port Perry’s Brandon Griffen came in for the final inning closing the lights on the Lightning by a final score of 6-3. 

Port Perry is now on their 6^th game of the day and only need one more victory for the championship. Unfortunately, the game did not go as planned as the Jacks’ were completely out of gas.  After playing this much baseball the boys had nothing left, the pitching staff threw over 550 pitches on the day and there was 166 plate appearances by Port’s batters, so it was amazing these boys could stand let alone play ball.  Congratulation goes out to the Chepstow Lightning team as they defeat Port Perry in the finals and take the gold medal.  The Lumberjacks get the silver and are also given the stamina award by the OASA crew who could not believe they played 6 back to back games in one day.

Don’t forget to check out more minor softball news and events in Port Perry by visiting Port Perry & District Minor Softball Associations’ website at http://www.portperrysoftball.com/ where you will find updated information for all house league teams.