(Note: as a number of people have asked us what is going on in Quebec at the Junior Nationals, we have written to the hosts but no response.
Obviously they are having problems with rain, but there is no mention of their status either on their front page or on their Results page. Luckily
we have this report from Pat Healey)
Rain plays havoc with Junior Nats; PEI at 0-4
aAntigonish Murphy's Fish & Chips Eagles with Alberton's Mitch Hardy at 1-2;
two games they are leading halted due to rain; five games in next 24 hrs
BY PAT HEALEY
SAINT-LEONARD D’ASTON, QUE. - Mother Nature hasn't made any friends with the ball players and organizers at the 2006 Canadian Junior Men's softball championships here in St-Leonard d'Aston, Quebec.
For the second day in a row, there were some games played before heavy rains hit the region again wiping oput play and making it a busy day and half for teams with just three games played like the Antigonish Murphy's Fish and Chips Eagles, featuring Mitch Hardy of Alberton, and the Summerside Source for Sports Twins.
The rain postponement leaves the Eagles in a precarious position having just three games under their belts (1-2 won-loss record), two more scheduled for Thursday, the scheduled final round robin day, but also with two games halted with them ahead 6-5 over Oshawa Double BB in the bottom of the sixth and their game with the host, L'Express halted Wednesday with thhem ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth. The host have runners on second and third with one out, and Hardy is on the slab.
"We can't do anything about Mother Nature, but wait and hope there's three nice days the enxt three days so we can get some ball in," Hardy said. "Whoever will leave here as champions will have earned it because it's going to be gruelling for teams like us with five games left to play in like 24 hours before crossovers."
"We'll see who has the best pitchers and team with the schedule in front of us in the next few days."
Weather forecats for the area are calling for rain until mid-day Thursday when the sun will return, but anopther system is moving in that could wreck havoc on Saturday with more rain, MeteoMedia.com weather site indicates.
WEDNESDAY PLAY
When there was action Wednesday, scoring runs continued to plague the P.E.I. Source for Sports Juniors Twins on day three of the 2006 Canadian Junior Men’s softball championships here Wednesday in St-Leonard d’Aston.
Summerside lost 5-2 to the Quyon Tigers of Quebec to drop to 0-4, and almost out of contention for playoff action. Mitch Hardy of Alberton and his Antigonish Murphy’s Fish and Chips Eagles were leading 2-0 over the host L’Express.
Summerside, looking for their first win to give themselves a confidence boost, managed just two runs in a 5-2 setback to Quyon Tigers representing Quebec.
Leading the attack for P.E.I. was Ryan Gallant (2-for-4, run scored, triple) who continued to lead the Twins with veteran leadership and a hot bat. Ryan Perry (1-for-3, double) and Nick Hann (1-for-2, double, walk) also did some damage. Tyler Forbes (0-for-3) scored the other run for P.E.I.
Steve McCord (2-for-4, run scored, two RBI) and Shawn Laframboise (3-for-4, RBI) led Quyon in the early game Wednesday.
"We are seeing the ball and getting hard hits, but wherever we place the ball, one of the opposition seems to be there ready to get us out," said Ryan Gallant from Quebec.
Meanwhile, the Eagles were close to a win when rain came Tuesday, with a 6-5 lead over Oshawa in the bottom of the sixth. That game will be resumed Thursday night or Friday morning, and could play a role in determining the final placing for Antigonish.
As of Thursday, Antigonish was 1-2 with a possible second win on the ropes in the delayed Oshawa game. The Eagles play Quyon (12 p.m. Atlantic) and then Hardy does battle against the Twins (4 p.m. Atlantic) in final round robin play Thursday.
The Eagles have a shot to finish at 6-2 if they win their remaining games. P.E.I. can make it if they regroup and win their remaining games, to finish at 4-4.
RAIN DELAYS ACTION
Tuesday night, action was halted due to thunder and lightning storms in the region and those games, which include the Twins taking on Ontario one rep Elmira Juniors that was scheduled for 12 am, will now be played once the remainder of the regular tournament schedule is complete either late Thursday night or Friday morning. This means the tiebreaker games and crossover action has been pushed back to Saturday.
The championship game on Sunday may also be forced down the time slot, but no decision had been made as to it’s position yet, organizers said=2
pathealey@eastlink.ca
