Aug. 17, 2006

 

Two close one-run losses ended up not hurting a local youth baseball club at the city championships this past weekend, as an opening win was all it needed to qualify for their provincial championships.

The Scarborough Stingers boys mosquito (players born in 1995) AAA baseball squad was one of four teams that competed in their three-day Toronto Baseball Association (TBA) championship tournament, which concluded Sunday. Matches were held at East York's Stan Wadlow Park.

Clubs from North York, Etobicoke and East York also participated in the city finals, which featured a double-knockout affair, meaning teams had to lose twice before being eliminated.

Since the TBA is one of the strongest leagues at the mosquito level, officials from the Ontario Baseball Association had previously determined that three clubs from the circuit could compete at the provincials.

The Ontario tourney is scheduled for Labour Day weekend in Windsor.

As the TBA tourney had a double-knockout format, the two winners of the opening matches were guaranteed a Top 3 finish, and more importantly, a berth into the provincials.

The Stingers were officially Windsor-bound when they defeated East York 12-5 in their first game.

"We knew we just had to win Friday night and then the rest was gravy," said Stingers' coach Bob Whitaker.

As it turned out, the Scarborough side ended up placing third at the TBA tourney. The Stingers were edged in both of their Saturday matches, 12-11 to North York, and 5-4 to Etobicoke.