London Lightning Squirt spent a hot and humid weekend in Chatham, going 3-1 in round robin play and then earning gold medals in a closely fought championship game!
Ten teams competed in an open format, with each playing four round robin games. The top two teams advanced straight to the championship game while the next two played for bronze. Squirt expected some tight games and the field certainly delivered. Squirt came out of the round robin with wins over Six Nations (11-9), Saugeen Shores (16-7) and LaSalle Green (7-5). The sole loss came at the hands of the Wyoming Wranglers (6-5). Three of the four games were decided by just one or two runs.
That record was enough to put Squirt into the championship game for a rematch against the undefeated Wranglers. Squirt took an early 3-0 lead but Wyoming came right back with five of their own in the second inning. Squirt chipped away to tie the game at 6-6 after four. Squirt then brought home the go-ahead run in the top of the fifth before shutting down the Wranglers in the bottom of the deciding inning to hold on for a 7-6 victory for the championship!
Squirt was very impressed with the play of all of our opponents. The girls developed their game this weekend through facing teams with different strengths. Six Nations brought strong bats, as always; Saugeen Shores showed impressive fundamentals and solid team play; LaSalle Green impressed us with their aggressive baserunning and all around strong play; and Wyoming proved to be our equal in every regard, trading a pair of tightly contested one-run games.
Thank you to our hosts the Chatham Golden Hawks, and to our opponents, players, coaches, parents and extended family. Congratulations to the girls who fought through the heat, injuries and too many close plays to count.
Go Lightning, Go!!!