Great defensive play in junior rookie ball
By Lee-Ann Brinovec Junior rookie

Our Tile Source junior rookie (K1) team took to the field in Pottageville as hosts to Aurora's Mastermind in a game last week that was highlighted by great defence by both teams.

The usual array of big hitters were stifled by the incredible fielding efforts put forth by Aurora. But Kurtis Lewandowski, Lucas "Big Swing" Critelli and Jake Hansen each made clutch hits to ensure Cobra runners would not be stranded on base. Jake Hansen was impressive, connecting for a double and then a triple.

The Tile Source folks played a tight team defence that included Critelli being a hot glove at second base. His focus was admirable. Ethan Fisher made a couple of great outs at first base, backed up by Gregory Long in the middle outfield. Later in the game, Lewandowski was on the mound and was an effective member of the infield team making accurate throws to his partner Hansen on first to get several outs. On the other side of the diamond, Jesse Becker held down third base admirably and Emily Brinovec offered her skills as back up in left field. When the last Aurora batter made solid contact and things were looking a little bleak for the King team, Nicholas Lauriola came through at home, making the out as a very quick thinking catcher stopping the Aurora team in their tracks.

The player of the game for Tile Source was Jake Hansen for his solid batting and fielding on first base.

The Filebank Records (K3) junior rookie squad took on a slick-fielding Schomberg IGA (K2) team last Tuesday at Pottageville Park. IGA continues to dominate at the plate this season. Home runs by Tyler Radell, Mark Lago and Christian Leone helped tilt the score in their favor. Michael Saraceni celebrated his sixth birthday by helping out his team offensively, going three-for-three at the plate with a pair of singles and a triple. The Filebank fielders did their best to cut down on the run production as Giselle Murphy made a couple of eye-catching plays for outs at first base, and Mackenzie Douglas, working behind the plate, picked up a loose ball at the backstop and hustled to the plate to record the final out of the first inning. Douglas led the Filebank attack with a couple of solid hits scoring two runs. Ben Brown chipped in with a pair of hits, and Ffion McKay, Jonathan Brunato and Justin Topp each had base hits and scored a run.

While the Filebank team hit the ball hard, the IGA infielders did their best to knock down everything that came their way, including five putouts at first base by Mark Lago at the pitcher position and Andrew Dinopoulos at first.

Player of the game for Filebank was Mackenzie Douglas. Player of the game for IGA was Andrew Dinopoulos.

Senior rookie

The TVS Development Corp senior rookie (K1) team trounced their opposition from Beeton, 23- 8 last week.

Zachary Long led the way as he belted out a double and a stand up triple. Daniel Pignataro showed his speed on the base paths as he stretched a double into a triple and Myles Cook followed his lead as he ran full out from first to cross home plate on a well-hit single by Adam Cipollone. The TVS squad was not only outstanding offensively. On defence, Scott Cameron made a nice play at third and held a runner at first on a fine throw from right field to first baseman Hunter Chantiam.

Rona Cashway, the senior rookie (K2) team, played two games this past week.

On a very hot night, and fielding only eight players, the team put forth a great effort against the Aurora Diggers. Kyle Venberg, Thomas Beckley, Cassidy Tomlinson and Rachel Price led their team offensively. Playing with a short handed team, meant that the fielders had much more ground to cover and they were grateful for the play of Kyle Venberg who made a great stop at short to keep an Aurora runner from advancing. And then in the fourth, he made an unassisted out at second, knocking down a hard-hit ground ball and beating the runner to the bag. Matthew Iannucci made a timely out at third and Thomas Beckley recorded the third out in the inning by tagging out the runner at the plate.

Player of the game for Rona Cashway was Matthew Iannucci.

They then lost a heartbreaker 7-3, to McAlpine Ford last Wednesday night in Aurora. After a delay of more than half an hour waiting for the bases to arrive, the game got under way at 7:21 p.m. and was ended by the umpires at 8:15, denying the visiting King team their at bat in an open inning.

The three runs scored by Rona Cashway came from the bat of Venberg, who hit a double in the first to score Sam Hoare, and a triple in the third that brought Hoare and Alexander Topp around to score. The highlight of the night was the defensive play of Beckley, who stopped a ground ball at second and touched the base for the force out, and then on the same play, Venberg had the presence of mind to take the ball off Beckley and tag out the runner going to third base, for the third out in the inning.

Player of the game was Kyle Venberg.

Mosquito

Armstrong Petroleums recorded their fifth win of the season as they beat Green Point Laser 7-5, at James Lloyd Park in Aurora last week.

The game was anything but a barn-burner, as each team walked in three runs in the first inning. The big bats of Armstrong were somewhat quiet, with the exception of Nicholas Bell, who punched in an RBI in the third, and Kayla Blackbird was the only King player to cross home plate twice. Defence was the name of the game, and Bell did his part, catching an infield pop fly. Matthew Fiorini combined with his pitcher Francesco Amanteo to record two outs. Armstrong kept Green Point off the score sheet for three straight innings and pitcher Joshua Hollings was a big reason, as he struck out five batters in the two innings he was on the mound.

The second game of the week for Armstrong Petroleums did not have the same outcome, as they lost 11-9 in a rematch against Remax D&L from Aurora.

Aurora was able to capitalize on a few minor defensive errors and that was the difference.

Andrew Cipollone continues to be a smart base runner as he consistently turns singles into home runs. Blackbird crossed home plate twice for the third game in a row. Even with her bat being fairly quiet, her sharp eye enables her to get on base, and then her hard running gets her home. Matthew Fiorni cranked out an opposite field homer to record two runs. In a true sense of team spirit, Alex Mulder postponed his vacation by a day, and his team certainly appreciated it when he connected for a long double that scored a pair of valuable runs.

Peewee

Royal LePage fought hard against a talented Aurora Rotary Club team in a game in which the King team attempted to rally back in the fourth inning, scoring six runs.

Despite the fact that they never quit, they went down 14-8.

Joseph Perone worked hard on the mound in the three innings he pitched and was the player of the game for his defensive contribution.

In their second game of the week, Royal LePage (K2) hosted Aspen Ridge Homes in a game that saw LePage jump out to an early lead, but fail to hold on, losing a close 11-10 decision.

K2 scored the maximum five runs in both the first and third innings in a very evenly-matched game. Brandon D'Amato, Warren Jackson and Marshall Perone shared the pitching duties and did a great job in an attempt to hold off their opponent.

Player of the game was Brandon D'Amato.

Rhind Electric (K3) prevailed 14-10 over Scotia Bank (A2) in Aurora on a very warm evening last week.

Offence was definitely not a problem as six different players contributed RBIs. Stewart Burman was three-for-four, hitting three long singles and cashing in three RBIs. Travis Brinovec was four-for-four, with three singles and a double. Daniel Bilzer reached base two out of three times he stepped to the plate, including taking one for the team as he was the second hit batsman in the game. Dylan Love has improved his timing at the plate and it was evident in this game, as he was a perfect three-for-three and was responsible for bringing in three runs. He was also a force on the defensive side, as he caught a long fly ball in right field and was responsible for the third out in the open fourth inning, catching an infield pop fly. He made his presence felt in the fifth, when he knocked down a hard hit ground ball at short and made a perfect throw to Tyler Burtt at first base. Burtt used his speed for more than rounding the bases in this game, as he and catcher Brinovec caught an Aurora player in a run down between third and home. Burtt literally ran the player down, tagging him out, as the Aurora player did not stand a chance when he chased him.

Player of the game for Rhind Electric was Sebastian Fritz who came in as a closer in the sixth inning and shut down the Scotia Bank team in a game where time was a factor, with Rhind Electric needing to complete the inning in seven minutes or less. The first batter hit a come backer that Fritz picked up and calmly threw to Stewart on first. He struck out the next batter, and the last batter hit a ground ball right to Stewart at first base.

Sponsor of the Week

Our KTBA sponsor of the week is Royal LePage, the sponsor of the peewee 2 team. Thank-you for your continued support of minor ball in King.

Player of the Week

The King Township Baseball Association player of the week award goes to a player who is in his first year of baseball. Dylan Love comes to each and every game ready to play and willing to learn. He played like a pro last week and really stepped up when his team needed him. Congratulations Dylan and continued success in what will certainly be a long and rewarding baseball career.