SOURIS – The Summerside Chevys rode an undefeated performance to the P.E.I. Midget A Baseball League title.
The Chevys went 4-0 (won-lost) in the recent provincial championship tournament hosted by the Souris Slammers. Summerside won its first two games to clinch first place in the West Division, and then won its semifinal contest to secure a berth in the final.
Championship game
In the championship game against the Cornwall Cougars at Jerry McCormack Field in Souris, the Chevys took an early lead and went on to a 12-2 win in five innings.
Jonah Gallant, who was relieved by Parker Gallant, struck out seven in four innings of work to record the pitching win. Korby Scott was Cornwall’s pitcher of record.
Tournament most valuable player Justin Day led the offence with a 3-for-3 summary, including a triple, double, three runs scored and three runs batted in. Parker Gallant (2-2, double, two runs scored, two RBI) and Dylan Gilfoy (1-2) were the other Chevys’ top batters.
Ethan MacLean (1-2, run scored) and Connor Hennessy (1-2) led the Cougars’ attack.
Day and the Cougars’ Austin Gallant were named the offensive players of the game. The defensive players of the game were Carson Arsenault (Summerside) and Adam Younker (Cornwall).
Semifinals
In the semifinals at Jerry McCormack Field, Day recorded 10 strikeouts and the pitching win after five strong innings of work in pacing the Chevys over the Sherwood-Parkdale Knights 11-1 in five innings. Ethan Murphy took the loss.
Parker Gallant (2-2, home run, double, two runs scored, RBI), Day (2-2, triple, run scored, three RBI) and Logan Yeo (1-2, double, two RBI) were Summerside's top batters. Matthew Perry (2-2), Matthew Hunter (1-2, double) and JD Clark (1-2, run scored) were the top batters for Sherwood-Parkdale.
Day and Clark were the players of the game.
In the other semifinal, Cornwall had a strong pitching performance from Connor Hennessy to edge the top-seeded Souris Slammers 6-5.
Round robin
Summerside opened the provincial championship with a 12-5 win over the Cougars at Church Field in Morell.
Cameron Murray had a solid effort with six strikeouts over four innings to earn the pitching win. Jonah Gallant recorded the save. MacLean was tagged with the loss.
Nick Blanchard (1-2, run scored), Jonah Gallant (1-3, run scored, RBI) and Brenden Wilson (1-3) keyed Summerside’s offence. Top batters for Cornwall were Hennessy (1-2, run scored), Younker (1-3, triple, run scored, two RBI) and Scott (1-3).
Players of the game were Carson Arsenault (Summerside) and Hennessy ( Cornwall).
Game-winning hit
In the Chevys’ second game, Gilfoy's single in the bottom of the seventh inning drove in the winning run in a thrilling 7-6 come from behind win over the Charlottetown Royals at Church Field.
Parker Gallant earned the pitching win while Ethan Nabuurs took the loss.
Parker Gallant (3-3, two doubles, three runs scored, two RBI), Murray (1-2, RBI) and Gilfoy (1-3, RBI) were Summerside’s top batters. Owen Morrison (2-3, run scored, two RBI), Harrison Trenholm (2-3, run scored, RBI) and Nick Profitt (2-3. run scored, RBI) were Charlottetown's top batters.
Gilfoy and Morrison were the players of the game.
The win gave the Chevys first place in the West Division after round robin play.
