Wolfe Flooring Major Rookies Win WOBA Championship, News (Mitchell Minor Baseball)

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2017 Major Rookie OBA | Aug 13, 2017 | ryan klumper | 2426 views
Wolfe Flooring Major Rookies Win WOBA Championship
It seemed only fitting on a day that Doug Wolfe who was instrumental in initiating hardball in Mitchell was honoured for his 26 years of contribution to the Western Ontario Baseball Association, that the Mitchell Wolfe Flooring Major Rookie OBA team would capture the top honour during the annual Doug Wolfe Rookie Ball year end tournament held in Mitchell August 4-6, 2017 and become the 2017 WOBA Rookie Champions.

Going undefeated the first three games of the tournament, having won 10 -8 against St. Marys in game one, 10-6 against Exeter in game two, and 12-6 against Ilderton in the semi-finals, Mitchell would meet St. Marys for the second time , in an edge of your seat final, that saw the two teams battling back and forth in an equally contested battle of the sticks. 

Heading into the bottom half of the second inning, Mitchell had a comfortable 5 run lead over St. Marys, however, St. Marys never gave up at the plate, and rallied back to even up the score adding seven runs and taking a two run lead over Mitchell heading into the third.   Mitchell then added an additional run to close within one; however, St. Marys answered with a 4 run lead in the bottom half of the inning.  Mitchell tightened up their defence and shut down their opponents in the bottom of the fourth, still leaving the OBA's trailing behind by four runs.  


Then in the top of the fifth inning Ryan Klumper ignited of the offence with  lead-off double, followed by singles from Charlie Wolfe and Logan Verberne to load the bases.  Singles from Max Hannon, Elijah Bender, Griffin Bree, Matthew Menheere and Jonah Gibbings each drove in a run. With two outs, Zack Siemon added a single to advance the runners to second and third base.  Jack Crowley batted a run in, and back at the top of the order Landon VanBakel singled to load the bases for the second time in the inning.  Ethan Jarmuth then singled in the seventh run of the inning to mercy St. Marys, and take back Mitchells lead with a score of 15-12 heading into the bottom of the fifth.  Mitchell pulled together defensively and with the bases loaded for St. Marys, Charlie Wolfe caught a huge line drive on the third base line to end the inning with no runs scored for the opponents. 

At the top of the sixth, Elijah Bender drove in one run for the OBA’s rounding out their total at 18.  However, not to throw in the towel, St. Marys battled hard in the bottom of the sixth, scoring 5 additional runs to bring their total within one run of Mitchell. 

Going into the seventh and final inning of the game, both teams took a time out to re-group before Mitchell stepped up to the plate, to try and add some assurance runs to the scoreboard. However, the dialed in defence of St. Marys prevented the OBA’s from adding anything further to their score during their last at-bat, and only allowed Mitchell a one run safety net heading into the last half inning of the game.  When St. Marys stepped to the plate for the last at-bat of the game, Logan Verberne on second stopped a ground ball, and made a clean throw to Ryan Klumper on first, to make the first out of the inning.  Then Verberne made an in-air diving catch to get the second out of the inning. With the tying run on first base, and the go-ahead run at the plate, St. Marys drove the ball hard along the ground directly to Ethan Jarmuth at short stop. Jarmuth scooped the ball up and dove into second base, tagging the lead-off runner.  With all the fans in the stands holding their breath and on their feet as the umpire called the third out, Mitchell emerged victorious, winning 18-17 in the final, taking home the top honour as the 2017 WOBA Rookie Champions!

As the Wolfe Flooring Major Rookies look to continue their momentum from the WOBA year end tournament, they will play several exhibition games over the coming weeks, as they prepare to head into the OBA finals over Labour Day weekend in Wallaceburg.  

Congratulations on your successful tournament finish boys... way to make everyone proud!!
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