Coaches Row: Melanie Harris, Matt Lamont, Jeff Myatt, Darryl McKinnon, Kelli Bradley
Our beautiful new Lamont Sports Park was well attended and represented this past weekend as the Saugeen Golf Club U13 Saugeen Shores PWSA Sting team hosted their annual ‘Battle At The Beach’ fast-pitch tournament with 12 teams coming in for the event. The breeze might have been cool as the Sting team took to the field for their first game of the tournament, but their bats were hot as they defeated the Oshawa Lady B’s thanks to a strong start.
Photos by Saugeen Times
Elliana Cameron led things off on the rubber for Saugeen Shores Sting. The right-hander went one and two-thirds innings, allowing four hits and eight runs while striking out three.
At the plate, the Sting team started the first inning strong by scoring on a double byBrooke Lamont, an error, and a single by Janey Harris. After Oshawa Lady B’s scored two runs in the top of the second, Saugeen Shores Sting answered with two of their own when Gwen Doherty homered on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring two runs. Then Saugeen Shores scored five more runs in the fourth inning. The offensive onslaught was led by Chloe McKinnon who hit a long ball out to the grass and followed with hits by Brooke Lamont, Maelle Wiles and Peyton Myatt, all sending runners across the plate with RBIs.
In the end, Saugeen Shores racked up 15 runs off 12 hits with multiple hits by Amelia Steele, Brooke Lamont and Gwen Doherty. Even though Oshawa scored seven runs in the fifth inning, Saugeen Shores Sting held the lead and defeated the Lady B’s 15-11.
With their first win in their pocket, Saugeen Shores Sting turned their attention to the Lucan-Ilderton A’s. Both offences were strong at the plate as Saugeen Shores Sting collected ten hits and Lucan-Ilderton A’s eight in the high-scoring affair. Saugeen Shores saw the ball well during this game and scored on walks by Claire Parker, Lane Topham, Elliana Cameron, Janey Harris, Amelia Steele and singles by Olivia Clark, Chloe McKinnon and Brooke Lamont, just in the first inning. Although the Ilderton A’s managed to score four more runs in the third inning, it wasn’t enough as the Saugeen Shores Sting collected an easy win with a final score of 20-11.
Saturday morning’s sky was bright and blue as the U13 PWSA team arrived at the park to face off against the Cambridge Coyotes in day 2 of the tournament. Elliana Cameron gave Saugeen Shores a strong start on the rubber by going one and one third innings and allowing only two hits and zero runs while striking out two and walking one. Peyton Myatt continued to shut down the Cambridge Coyotes in relief as she struck out four of the nine batters she faced in two and one third innings and allowing only one walk and Brooke Lamont came out from the bullpen to close out the game. Chloe McKinnon went two for two at the plate to lead Saugeen Shores in hits. Gwen Doherty led the team with two stolen bases as they ran wild on the base paths with thirteen stolen bases to beat the Cambridge Coyotes 12-6.
The Saugeen Golf Club Sting team continued their winning streak in the afternoon with a big win over the 2011 LaSalle Athletics 11-2. Elliana Cameron started off with yet another strong showing in the circle, surrendering only two runs on one hit over three innings and striking out five. Peyton Myatt then entered to finish the game and shut down the LaSalle offence completely by allowing only four hits and zero runs in four innings and garnering five strikeouts. The Saugeen Shores Sting had no trouble on offence during this game by getting on the board in the first inning with Brooke Lamont grounding out, scoring one run. Then they took the lead for good when Madeline Thede singled on a 0-2 count, scoring two more runs. In the fifth inning, Saugeen Shores continued to extend their lead with three more runs.
Gwen Doherty, Olivia Clark and Penelope Martin all contributing in the big inning with RBIs. Then Claire Parker hit a home run to slam the door shut in the sixth inning and the ladies never looked back. It was Saugeen Shores’ strongest showing yet as they didn’t commit a single error and racked up 12 hits with Peyton Myatt, Madeline Thede and Gwen Doherty having multiple hits each and Chloe McKinnon collecting four of their seven stolen bases.
After dinner, the Saugeen Golf Club U13 PWSA Sting team was back at it again. This time versus the Wyoming Wranglers. It was an action-packed, back-and-forth game that saw Saugeen Shores Sting come away with a 13-11 victory. Saugeen Shores captured an early lead when Lane Topham singled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring two runs to make it a six-run lead. Unfortunately, the Wranglers retaliated with nine runs scored in the second inning. Even with Elliana Cameron smacking out her first home run of the season in the second inning, it wasn’t until the bottom of the fourth that Saugeen Shores Sting were able to tie things up when Claire Parker singled on a 2-0 count, scoring one run. Peyton Myatt earned the victory on the rubber for Saugeen Shores as she went two innings, allowing three runs on three hits, striking out four and walking one. Brooke Lamont and Janey Harris entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief. Saugeen Shores Sting tallied 14 hits in the game with Elliana Cameron, Lane Topham and Penelope Martin all managing multiple hits – Cameron and Topham garnering three hits each. It was another strong showing as the ladies were sure-handed and once again, didn’t commit a single error.
As Saturday ended, the Saugeen Shores Sting were undefeated and headed to the semi-finals!
Sunday morning dawned cold and dreary. As our U13 PWSA Sting team took to the field to face a strong Kitchener Klassics team for the semi-final match, it started to rain. Despite Sting’s best efforts to stay in the game, nothing seemed to go right and between the errors committed on the field and their inability to get on base, Saugeen Shores fell to the Kitchener Klassics with a score of 16-1.
Still stinging from their loss to the Kitchener Klassics, Saugeen Shores had only a short time to get out of the rain and re-group before they were called back to the field to play the 2011 LaSalle Athletics once again for the Bronze medal. It was clear from the beginning that the Saugeen Shores Sting were determined to come out of this game with a medal as Elliana Cameron took to the rubber with her strongest showing yet – allowing only five hits and three runs over three innings and striking out six. Then Peyton Myatt replaced Cameron in the circle and proved that she still had plenty left in the tank as she had her strongest showing yet as well striking out 10 of the 16 batters she faced in four innings and allowing only one run off one hit. It was a great come back at the plate as well as Saugeen Shores tallied ten hits in the game with multiple hits by Chloe McKinnon, Claire Parker and Peyton Myatt including a solo home run by McKinnon and a two-run dinger by Claire Parker. With a final score of 6-4, the Saugeen Shores U13 Sting team beat the 2011 LaSalle Athletics to claim the Bronze medal.
Although they might not have made it to the finals, these ladies should be proud of themselves. They played hard, they made some incredible plays including an amazing relay back to home for a tag from catcher Maelle Wiles to stop a solo home run from scoring at home plate and they ended the weekend with a record of 6-1. As we hit the midway point of the season, their record currently sits at 15-7.
So, if you missed them this past weekend, come on out on June 24th, at the official opening of the Park, as the Saugeen Golf Club U13 PWSA Sting team take on Palmerston at the Lamont Sports Park. You’re sure to see some great baseball!
