The Walkerton Capitals #1 team would play in the annual WOBA
year end tournament in Exeter over the weekend of August 12th-14th. To sum up the weekend in a few words “wet,
hot and wild”. The tournament was a
double elimination meaning two losses and the team was out. The boys were placed in the Tier 1 division
based on its regular season record.
The first game was against the Saugeen Shores Sting Black team. The temperature at game time was close to 40 degrees with humidity but the Capitals were even hotter. The bats were on fire and the pitching stellar. The team would play a great game and would go on to win in a mercy ruling 13-3.
Game 2 would be played Saturday at noon against the Mitchell #3 team. Mitchell were the regular season division winners and had been very stingy all season in giving up runs and this game would be no different. The Capitals ran into a strong pitcher and a very defensive team. Mitchell would go on to win 13-0 in a mercy game after four innings. The Capitals played a spirited game but for the first time all season Walkerton was unable to score. The boys were hitting balls but Mitchell’s defence was exceptional. The young Mitchell pitcher was perfect through the four innings allowing not a single runner on base.
Game 3 was played at 4:00 p.m. that same day this time the Capitals would face the Exeter Express #2 team. The Capitals would fall behind early but in true Capital fashion the team would battle back. The two teams would battle back and forth with each team making some great plays. The game would have a short rain delay when a hard rain began to fall in the third inning. The game would resume if only temporarily as a torrential rain would soon fall and the game would be called with Exeter leading 8-4. Exeter would eventually go on to win the championship the next day beating Mitchell #3 7-6.
The season now over its time to look back on a fantastic year. You will look back on this season many years from now and remember not the wins and losses but rather the new friends the laughter and the fun times. Remember that it is only a game and that as a group of young men you came together as a team to play this great game.
In closing a final thank you must go out to the coaching staff who gave of their time and talent to bring out the best in all these players. Thanks to third base coach, Greg Bester, first base coach, Dan Cormack and head coach Mike McIntyre for all that you put in through this year.