ST. CLEMENTS — Could the battle lines be redrawn in the race to become the world's top fast-pitch club team?

The free-swinging Scarborough Force at least entered the conversation after they emerged unscathed through a world-class field at the Peter Hallman Memorial tournament that included the planet's top three teams.

Once the dust cleared at the St. Clements Community Centre, only the underrated Force were left standing following their breathtaking 19-7 romp in four innings over the world's No. 2 club, the Toronto Gators, in Sunday's all-Ontario title game.

"It doesn't matter to us that we didn't face their (top pitchers). Everyone has to hit and we hit the ball hard," said the Force's superb cleanup hitter Freddie Terkelsen, of Horsholm, Denmark, after his monstrous Sunday afternoon.

Terkelsen, a former Kitchener Hallman Twin, went a devastating 4-for-4 from the plate Sunday, including three homers and six RBI to power Scarborough to a mercy decision in the championship.

"We are starting to bond more," the 29-year-old Great Dane said of his sixth-ranked club which features players from seven different countries. "We have a lot of new guys on this team. It's about bringing the team together."

The Force crushed their competition here, rolling undefeated through six games and outscoring their opponents 55-11 in the process. Scarborough even toppled the No. 1 ranked and three-time defending world champs, Hill United from Six Nations, Ont., with a 7-3 decision on Saturday night.

In a tournament final that was more slowpitch than fast-pitch, the Force smashed 17 hits, including seven round-trippers.

Gators starter Kyle Crawford was chased out of the game following 1 2/3 innings of work when he surrendered seven hits and eight earned runs.

Toronto infielder Ty Sebastian took to the pitcher's circle in mop-up relief during his forgettable afternoon.

Toronto's top two throwers, Canadians Sean Cleary and Justin Schofield, were given the afternoon off following their impressive performances earlier at the three-day event.

Just the same, could the Force's international hit parade be at the top of the charts after the International Softball Congress world tournament concludes in Moline, Ill. in August?

Not so fast, said Gators field manager Terry Baytor.

"We had to get our No. 3 guy (Crawford) some work in the final to see what he can do. He didn't get the job done. He knows it.

"We'll regroup. Are we disappointed we lost? Yes. Is it a devastating loss? No. Because that team over there knows they didn't beat Sean Cleary or Justin Schofield."

In Sunday's final, Gators centrefielder Ben Enoka accounted for three of Toronto's 11 hits, chipping in with four RBI.

En route to the final, the Gators posted a 4-2 (won-lost) record here. They dumped the No. 3 New York Gremlins, 6-3, on Saturday and then clipped Hill United 7-6 Sunday morning.

Toronto's only other loss here was a 6-1 defeat to the Kitchener Hallman Cubs on Saturday morning.

In the consolation final, the Elmira Expos downed the Wiarton Nationals, 4-2.

 

crivet@therecord.com ;

Twitter: @RivetRecord

Christine Rivet covers sports for the Waterloo Region Record.