Tavistock Athletics under-14 peewee boys' team will play in the national championships

July 20, 2016

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The Tavistock Athletics peewee boys' fastball team won the Ontario Amateur Softball Association eliminations June 24 to 26 in Palmerston. They'll compete in Saskatoon, Sask. Aug. 10 to 14 for Softball Canada’s national under-14 peewee boys’ championships. Front row, from left: Luke Hyde and Sam Schwartzentruber. Second row, from left: Owen Donaldson, Chad Brown, Will Schlotzhauer, Ryan Zeigler, Izac Blum, Kyle Roth, Carter Roth, Clayton Gerber, Brady Roth and Mason McKay. Back row, from left: Chad Blum, Jeff Roth, Mark McKay and Scott Brown

 

ORIGINAL STORY by Greg Colgan, Sentinel-Review

Every two years, the 2002 age group out of Tavistock has found success on the diamond.

After winning the provincial mite championship in 2012 then the Ontario squirt finals in 2014, the Athletics will be aiming to keep the tradition alive Aug. 10 to 14 in Saskatoon, Sask. for Softball Canada’s national under-14 peewee boys’ championships.

The Athletics qualified for nationals after winning the Ontario Amateur Softball Association’s peewee boys’ eliminations June 24 to 26 in Palmerston.

“We have a solid group of (players born in) 2002s. They make a solid team and work well together,” Tavistock head coach Jeff Roth said in a phone interview of his nine second-year players and three first-years. “It’s a really good team to coach because the parents and players are great.”

With past success and a talented roster, it wasn’t too much of a shock to see the Tavistock Athletics qualify for nationals. A steady mix of lights out pitching and piling hits together led to more than a few lopsided wins.

Tavistock opened with a 10-0 win over Norwich-Otterville with Luke Hyde and Will Schlotzhauer sharing pitching duties. The Athletics continued with an 10-1 win over host Palmerston as Hyde threw five innings for the win and Chad Brown came on for two innings and five strikeouts.

The Athletics opened Saturday with a 4-0 victory against Wellesley with Brown going seven innings on the mound, allowing three hits and seven strikeouts. In the undefeated game, Tavistock beat Napanee 6-0 with Brown once again going seven innings and collecting six strikeouts as Tavistock moved to the finals.

Tavistock completed a perfect tournament with a 1-0 win over local rival Innerkip to clinch a spot at nationals. While both teams advance to Saskatoon, Innerkip nearly rallied late in the seventh with a leadoff triple then having runners on second and third with only one out until a line drive out helped Tavistock escape with the win.

“Our pitching was really good. We didn’t hit like we usually do, but we didn’t give up any earned runs all tournament. That helped a lot,” Roth said of the team’s 31 to 1 runs scored to runs allowed tally.

The team also picked up the top two awards with Brown being named the top pitcher after throwing 23 scoreless innings and Mason McKay the tournament most valuable player.

The Athletics will also be joined by Innerkip - only a 15 minute drive from Tavistock - at nationals. The past years have seen a friendly rivalry emerge with the two teams squaring off multiple times at provincials, eliminations and in the North Waterloo Rural Minor Fastball League.

“The kids know each other and we get along. It’s a competitive, but friendly rivalry. There’s never animosity. They’re basically all friends since they’ve been playing each other for so long,” Roth said of the Tavistock-Innerkip teams. “I think we’ll both be in the mix. We’re both so equal. There’s going to be a few good teams out there.”

Roth said they’ll get the added bonus of provincials being Aug. 6 and 7 in Innerkip before they head to Saskatoon. The closeness of the two events will help further prepare for a national event, which will be the first time hosting them at the under-14 level.

“It works out very well because it’ll be as tough as tournament as nationals with good teams in Innerkip, Napanee and Twin Centres. It’s the best tune up we can get since we leave the day after the tournament,” he said. “I’m excited how everything works out timing wise.”

Though it’ll be on a larger scale, Roth said with experience winning in provincial finals the team will be ready for a shot at a national title.

“I think having played at finals in Mite and Squirt and winning in tight games, our team has a lot of experience in playing in tight games. We don’t panic in one run games. Those provincials prepared them well. It’s another step with nationals, but it’s a natural one,” Roth said. “We’ve won dozens of tournaments over the years with this group and they’ve played in a lot of big games. I think they’re ready.”

 

gcolgan@postmedia.com

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