Minor Mosquito Hawks Take Barrie Championship!!

 

The Hawks were riding a three-game YSBA winning streak coming into the Barrie tournament and continued their winning ways in their opening game win vs. the Bloordale A's.  Hawks starter Brady W. was almost perfect as he struck out 14 batters and walked only one before yielding the mound due to pitch count; reliever Nick T. then struck out the 15th and final batter.  All defensive outs for the Hawks in that game came via the K; the peskiest at-bat for Bloordale was their second batter of the game who fouled off six pitches before striking out on pitch #12.

 

A second-game win for the Hawks vs. the Brampton Red Sox set-up a virtual playoff game vs. the Milton Mets, as the winner of Newmarket-Milton would advance to the semi's with the loser hoping for a wild-card playoff spot.  The game turned out to be a pitcher's duel with the Hawks leading 3-2 after starter R.J. Tuck left the game after five innings.  In the top of the 7th, Milton tied the game at 3-3, but Jaden H. led off the bottom of the 7th on a bunt single and later scored the walk-off winning run off of a sacrifice by Nick T.

 

The Hawks then faced the Clarington Orioles in the semi-finals and broke open a low scoring game in the 5th inning, while pitchers Brady W. (2 hits over 6.1 innings) and closer Christian D. kept the Clarington bats at bay.  In the finals, the Hawks met YSBA rival Barrie Rex Sox.  After an opening season YSBA tie with Barrie, the Hawks defeated the Red Sox twice in loop play coming into the tournament.  The trend would continue as the Hawks scored 10 runs in the second inning en route to the win.  Pitchers Mitchell B. and Matthew K. combined to limit Barrie to a single run.