Lisle is the heart of the local sports scene every Victoria Day long weekend for as many years as I can remember.
Hardball teams covet the hardware and cash they can earn from winning the tournament, which is considered a big deal in these parts.
Twelve teams played ball Saturday with the winner going the championship route and the loser earned the opportunity to pick up a smaller award for winning the consolation side.
In the end, New Lowell Knights, who are off to a hot 4-0 start in the North Dufferin Baseball League, won four more games in the tournament to boast overall victory.
In the championship final, the Knights tournament convenors, reported that, “It was scoreless until the top of the 7th, when Chris Greer hit a single, scored on a double by Sean Thompson, who in turn scored when Todd Gowan hit a home run. Gowan then struck out the last three Orangeville batters to win.”
Gowan, by the way, was a mainstay in Creemore for many years, but changed alliances last year when he helped the Ivy Leafs win a Strothers Cup, the trophy, which is given to the NDBL league champion. When he heard his old coach in Creemore, Hammer Kinghan, was coming out of retirement to manage the Knights, he didn’t hesitate to change teams again.
New Lowell advanced to the final by beating the Leafs 4-3 in the semi-final after crushing the Creemore Barons 13-0 Sunday and nipping the Kincardine Cubs 4-3 Saturday.
Bolton Brewers took the consolation side with a 5-3 win over the host Lisle Astros. Earlier Bolton had won over Kincardine, 6-3, and Angus, 13-1.
The Brewers were knocked out of contention Saturday by losing to the other team that plays out of Bolton, the Dodgers, 7-2.
Regarding your Creemore teams, the Braves lost to Lisle Saturday 5-4 and despite tying Ivy 3-3 didn’t advance because the win was awarded to Leafs for having more runners left on base. Ivy also beat the Barons Saturday 8-7. On Sunday, Lisle shutout the Barons 5-0.
Creemore Barons manager Andy VanderHeyden has posted on the NDBL site that the Barons are holding a golf tournament July 25 at Bear Creek Golf Club.
The tourney will be run as a four-man scramble with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. Cost is $100 per golfer. See any Baron if you want to register to play.
Finally, my wife Peggy and I were in Pittsburgh a few weeks back to watch the Pirates play the St. Louis Cardinals. We had chosen tickets for along the third base line but once we got to the stadium we realized that we couldn’t see the city skyline and the many bridges that the city is famous for.
We went to guest services and said we were from north of Toronto and made a mistake in purchasing our tickets.
Much to our surprise they moved us to behind home plate with spectacular views of the city and bridges at night. We felt we had the best seats in the house.
The PNC Park is a newer stadium with the classic old style feel and look. If you ever get the chance to check out Pittsburgh it’s worth it.
The Pennsylvanian city is only six hours away and home to major league baseball, NFL’s Steelers and NHL’s Penguins.
Ticket prices are reasonable.