Jun 27, 2016 | Trevor Russwurm | 203 views
Rookies Finalists in Wallaceburg Tournament
The Mitchell Stickhandler Tier 1 Major Rookie Astros competed in the Wallaceburg Rookie Tournament on June 24-26th, falling to champion Wyoming in the final by a score of 22-13. After exploding for the max 7 runs in the top of the first and looking to avenge an earlier loss in round robin play, the locals eventually ran out of gas against a rested opponent after playing back-to-back games on Sunday in 33C heat and dust.
Carson Harmer would set the tone early, reaching base with a leadoff single, driven in by Dominic Marshall's RBI double. Harmer was at it again in the second inning, stroking a one-out solo home run. Things began to unravel in the bottom of the third, as a weary Mitchell defense gave up consecutive 6-run innings to relinquish the lead for the remainder of the game.
Mitchell opened round robin play vs Wyoming on Saturday morning, and their high-scoring attack was in low gear with a season-low three runs scored in an 11-3 loss. Ryan Hubbard drove in all three runs with a 2-run double, coming in to score on the same play on a throwing error.
Corunna was the next opponent on late Saturday afternoon, and the bats came back to life with a 20-5 victory. Reaching base safely every time were Jack Miller, Jordan Visneskie, Ben Medhurst, Joel Meinen, and Darius Ladd. Visneskie paced the attack going 3-for-3 with two home runs and a triple, and Miller recorded a home run to end the 7-run 4th inning. Hitting his first career home run also was Zach Houben, with a two-run shot in the 2nd inning. Medhurst and Meinen each chipped in with an extra-base hit, and Ladd stroked two doubles in his 3-for-3 effort.
The Astros then faced a very young but energetic host Wallaceburg team, coming out on top 21-2 to earn a berth in the semi-finals on Sunday morning. Mitchell plated the max 7 runs in all three opening innings to end the game in a mercy. Harmer hammered a triple to open the game, and the locals never looked back. Visneskie hit a base-loaded triple, and Kellen Russwurm drove in five runs with a pair of doubles and a single.
Facing Belle River in the Sunday morning semi-final game, the locals provided an exciting finish for the fans, twice giving up big leads to bring the game to a close 15-13 victory. Belle River grounded out to Houben in the bottom of the 7th to end the game after threatening with four runs scored. After shutting down the opponents in the top of the first, Harmer & Marshall were the catalysts again, going deep with back-to-back jacks to open the scoring. Harmer would homer again the next inning, but was called out on an interference play at the plate. Also hitting for extra bases were Miller with a double and Hubbard with a pair of 2-run triples.
Wyoming had earlier eliminated Alvinston in the other semi-final game to set up the championship.