Creemore Padres oust Cubs to win junior title
In what could be described as a Cinderella story, the Creemore Padres of the North Dufferin Baseball League claimed the junior division championship title Aug. 23 with an 11-10 win in Game 4 over the Mansfield Cubs.
Creemore finished last in an eight- team division managing only one win during the regular season. Come playoffs, they went on to knock out the first place Caledon Nationals in the first round and the second place Orillia Royals in the second round.
Mansfield finished the season in third place and dispatched the sixth place Barrie Baycats and fifth place Georgina Bulldogs in the first two rounds of the postseason.
The two teams started the championship series last week with Creemore taking an early 2-0 lead winning 7-3 and 3-0.
Not to go quietly, the Cubs managed an 11-6 win in Game 3.
The teams met on Aug. 22 for Game 4 but the contest was scrubbed after the fourth inning due to rain, moving the game from Creemore to Mansfield the next day.
In what was a tight ball game, both Creemore and Mansfield scored four runs in the first inning before Creemore took the lead in the second with two more. One more run in the third and four in the fourth capped the runs at 11 for the Padres.
Meanwhile, the Cubs plated a single run in the second and third frames, clawed back with another three in the fourth and desperately tried to tie or take the lead in the fifth inning when they scored one run with runners in scoring position.
After five innings of play the game was called due to darkness ending the series in favour of the Creemore team.
Tait Lightheart started on the mound for the Padres and pitched two and one- third innings, allowed six runs on eight hits, walked one and fanned one.
Nic Guthrie came in relief and ended the game as the winning pitcher with his two and two-thirds of work, allowed four runs on five hits, and hit two batters.
For Mansfield, Cody Bryan toed the rubber for three and one-thirds of the game, gave up nine runs on nine hits, three walks, one hit batter and had two strikeouts. Aidan Pain came in for two-thirds of the third inning. He allowed two runs on two hits and walked two Padres.
Luke Dunmore gave up one hit in his one inning on the mound. Josh Young, Gavin Mikaczo and Guthrie contributed to the Padres offense with three singles each. Anson Dupuis doubled and singled and Lightheart also chipped in with a single.
Mansfield’s bats were strong behind Bryce Cameron who hit three singles and a double during the game. Dylan Brown hit a double and single and teammates Braden Doiron, Ben Nicholson, and Bryan all singled. Pain hit two singles and Jake Armstrong doubled in the losing effort.
In a post-game presentation, the two teams were congratulated on a well fought series by league secretary and junior division convenor Scott Anderson. Anderson presented the Anderson Trophy to Dupuis.
David Anderson photo: The Creemore Padres are the 2022 NDBL junior division champions. Pictured are from back row, left to right: coach Rob Stinson, Cal Stinson, Tait Lightheart, Nic Guthrie, Liam Reynolds, Gavin Mikaczo, coach Marc Dupuis, Josh Richens, Dresden Dupuis. Front row, from left: Kole Walker, Lukas Hayward (batboy), Josh Young, Anson Dupuis, Owen Van Delon.