Jeff Gard/Today’s Northumberland
With a successful season already to date, the Northumberland Jacks 11-and-under select team is ready to compete at the provincial championship this weekend.
The Jacks are in Forest Glade, near Windsor, for the Ontario Baseball Association U11 Select tournament.
Their season began by capturing a championship banner at an OBA-hosted tournament in St. Marys, near London, held in late June at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame fields.
The momentum continued into the Eastern Ontario Select Baseball Association tournament, hosted this season by the Brighton Bandits. The tournament served as the provincial qualifier, and the Jacks put together a strong run to secure their spot at the OBA championship.
Northumberland opened the EOSBA tournament Friday, Aug. 21, with a 7-5 victory over the Pickering Red Sox. On the Saturday, the Jacks followed with a 14-2 win over the Ajax Spartans before defeating the host Brighton Bandits 11-1.
The team then faced Pickering again during the Sunday schedule of competition, but the matchup was paused in the fourth inning because of rain. The game was continued the following Friday, Aug. 28, in Garden Hill, with the Jacks falling 14-5.
That loss forced a third game against Pickering, with the Jacks responding under the lights in Garden Hill with a 5-4 victory to earn their place in the provincial championship.
Head coach Kelsey Fuller said the team’s success throughout the season has come from contributions across the roster, particularly on the mound.
“Our players have had a strong season at the plate, but our success has been driven by the depth of our pitching,” Fuller said. “We have had numerous complete games thrown by our starting pitchers, a rare feat at this age group, and that has allowed us to go deep in tournament play. I couldn’t be more proud of these players and the way they have come together as a team this season.”
The Jacks roster features Everett Lynn, Sullivan Harp, Eddie Moloney, Noah Fuller, Lincoln Darrington, Carson Cranley, Ethan Jackson, Charlie Szamreta, Patrick Flaman, Lukas Lorenz, Lincoln Macinnes, Jaxon Scott, Dominic Bercier and Clarke Long.
Fuller is joined on the staff by assistant coach Jeff Scott.
Northumberland will open the OBA championship Friday morning against the host Forest Glade team before facing Corunna that afternoon and St. Marys on Saturday morning.
