Golden Boys of Summer

Fynn Chester, the righty from Victoria, took the mound today in the gold medal baseball game. Fynn pitched a one hit gem to beat Saskatchewan in the second game of the tournament. Fynn induced three weak ground balls to the second baseman in the first.

Noah Or continued to swing a hot bat, hitting a double to lead off the game for Victoria. Rhys Cratty (Langley) and Dawson Gray (Surrey) walked loading the bases for Cade Smith (Abbottsford) who singled scoring two runs to get TeamBC the lead.

Two singles and a triple by Saskatchewan evened the score at 2-2. all hits came in a two out rally.

Brett Bass singled to start the second inning prompting a pitching change by Saskatchewan.
#27. Damiano Parmagiani rudely greeted him by slicing a double down the first base line. Noah Or singled to score Bass. Cratty tripled to score two more runs causing Saskatchewan to make yet another pitching change. 29 came in to close out the inning by striking out Dawson Gray, the hottest hitter in the tournament and making Cade Smith ground out to the second baseman. Team BC was up 5-2 after 2 innings.

Chester and the Team Sask pitcher continued a pitchers duel. Chester blanked Saskatchewan in the 3rd, 4th 5th and 6th. Team Sask held Team BC to no runs in the 3rd and 5th innings.

The 4th inning for BC looked promising. Or, Cratty, Gray and Smith hit consecutive singles, scoring one run. Unfortunately, Parmegiana hit into an inning ending double play leaving the score 6-2.

While the game was going on the TeamBC boys took time to sign a baseball for the young anthem singer.

In the 5th inning Chester gave up a 1 out triple, however Palmegiani gunned the base runner out at home on a fielders choice and Team BC were able to get out of the inning unscathed.

Another Team BC promising inning started with Thomas Neal reaching base on a dropped 3rd strike. Or walked, Cratty executed a sacrifice bunt moving the runners into scoring position. Neal was thrown out at home on a fielders choice by Gray but Smith came through with a single to score in Or, the only run in the inning making the lead 7-2.

Chester gave up a run in the 7th, but with support from the defense was able to close out the game and earn gold for BC.

For a team that only had one practice before the tournament started, the coaching staff was able to get the team to gel and perform at a very high level.

Coach Tessier said ” It started by talking together and learning guys names. It’s about building the team concept from day one. There’s no magic formula. That’s the fun and challenge of coaching tournament teams, trying to get the best out of your players”.

Most of these players will be back at Wood Buffalo next year as part of the Canada Cup baseball tournament. The place maybe familiar but the experience will be different.