Jeff Gard/Today’s Northumberland
The host Northumberland Jacks will get another shot at Scarborough Sunday as they battle to stay alive at the Ontario Baseball Association 8-and-under championship in Cobourg.
The Jacks and Scarborough are scheduled to meet at 12 p.m. Sunday at Legion Fields in what could be a pivotal game in the double-knockout tournament.
Northumberland knows exactly what Scarborough is capable of.
The two teams met Saturday, with Scarborough coming away with a 15-9 victory and putting the Jacks on the brink of elimination.
But Northumberland refused to go quietly.
The Jacks opened Saturday with a 9-7 victory over London before suffering the loss to Scarborough. Facing elimination, Northumberland came through with a dramatic 15-14 win over Pickering to remain in the championship hunt.
In a double-knockout format, teams must lose twice before they are eliminated.
That sets up a crucial Sunday for the hometown Jacks.
Scarborough will face London Sunday morning. If Scarborough wins that game, Northumberland would have to beat Scarborough twice to capture the championship.
If London defeats Scarborough, the noon game between Northumberland and Scarborough becomes even more significant. The winner would advance to face London in a one-game showdown for the championship.
For the Jacks, Sunday’s game is an opportunity to erase the memory of Saturday’s loss to Scarborough — and keep their championship hopes alive in front of their hometown fans.
The Northumberland Jacks 8U A roster includes Jude Amos, Ethan Black, Henrik Charysz, Jackson Clarey, Finley Cromlish, Nash Dudley, Jack Gifford, Joe Mercer, Jack Minifie, Eddie Reyns, Brody Skrinek and Maxwell Throop.
With the tournament reaching its critical stages, the Jacks will be looking to turn Saturday’s disappointment into Sunday’s redemption.
