Posts in Sandlots
McFarland: Pitching in WCBL Rural Roots Classic was homecoming for Benton

“It was a homecoming Max Benton didn’t think he would ever make.

The Lethbridge Bulls starting pitcher toed the rubber at Doug Lehman Field in Oyen for the Western Canadian Baseball League’s Rural Roots Classic, where he had done it many times before as a member of the Badlands Baseball Academy.

Sitting down Sylvan Lake’s Noah Konings, Simon Baker and Bryce Turner in order to start the game, it was as if he had never left.

Benton cruised the rest of the way, allowing five runs on five hits and a walk while striking out five in six innings to pick up the win in a 19-11 victory in front of 550 fans.”

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SandlotsJoe McFarland
Estey: Gold Bat honours to Sarnia's charge of the Hit Brigade

“The Sarnia Brigade came within a game of winning the Canadian Amateur Baseball Central Gold Bat Tournament in 2024, but fell short in the final to the eventual provincial champion Newmarket Hawks.

This year, a different year, the host club would not be denied as they won the Gold Bat title with a 5-2 win over the Windsor Stars in the tournament finale at Stan Slack Field at Errol Russell Park on Sunday afternoon. “

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SandlotsBob Elliott
Elliott: Dawgs Tucker climbed from Mount Pearl to Seaman Stadium mound

“The joint was jumping.

Speakers at Seaman Stadium were blasting “Heave Away” by The Fables, the Celtic rock band from St. John’s, Newfoundland, as reliever Chase Tucker took his warm-up tosses.

The Fort McMurray Giants had a man on third as Tucker (Mount Pearl, Nfld.), replaced Josh Mills and made his first pitch.

Tucker heaved it all the way to the backstop with the runner scoring easily from third.

Lord liftin’ as a Newfoundlander might say.”

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Goldeyes, Baseball Manitoba team up for successful baseball clinic in Nunavut

“Just like the ice and snow blanketed the ocean in the distance, Donnie Smith was also covered in multiple layers.

(Two pairs of long underwear, baseball pants, sweat pants, long sleeve shirts, pullovers, and a hoodie, to be exact.)

But just south of the Arctic Circle in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, it was still time for baseball.

Smith, a former Winnipeg Goldeyes pitching star (the second ever to have his number retired), boarded a Calm Air flight earlier that day, alongside Baseball Manitoba clinicians, Winnipeg Goldeyes general manager Andrew Collier, and a plane half full of goods to be delivered to the remote Canadian hamlet.”

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SandlotsMelissa Verge
Elliott: Rose family thrives in Wild Rose country

“This really is Wild Rose country.

It says so on every license plate in the province.

And it has said so for years at Seaman Stadium, home of the Okotoks Dawgs.

Aidan Rose plays second base for the Okotoks Dawgs in the Western Canadian Baseball League. And before that Rose (Calgary, Alta.) joined the Dawgs Academy at age 12 from the Rocky Mountain Little League. So, this season with the college team represents his 11th in a Dawgs uniform.”

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Pascal: Sudbury St. Charles Cardinals medal at OFSAA final four

“Never underestimate the value of the willingness to compete in sport.

You can add the current St. Charles College team to the list of potential testimonials.

While the Cardinals have arguably taken more talented teams to OFSAA Regional playdowns in years gone by, it wasn’t until last week that an SCC squad battled their way through Stage I to take their place in the final four.”

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SandlotsCBN Staff