13U Soo Selects Excel in Windsor Tournament

The 13U Soo Selects had a strong performance at the Forest Glade Summer Showdown in Windsor, Ontario over the August 1-3 long weekend. 

In game one of the tournament, the Soo won a nail-biting 5-4victory over the host team, the Forest Glade Falcons. Left-handed pitcher Max Pritchard recorded the save in relief, while Luca D’Ulisse and Tyler Binkley Jr. each picked up two hits in the win. 

Game two paired the Soo Selects against the West Mountain Cougars, from Hamilton Ontario. The Cougars, a “Dedicated Selects” team, took an early lead 8-2 heading into the final inning of the game. However, the Soo Selects rallied late, scoring 7 runs in their final at bats, taking a 9-8 lead. The Soothen turned to hard-throwing relief pitcher Damian Beharriell, who closed out the win by striking out the side. 

“Our team realized quickly that they could compete at this level,” said head coach Pat Henderson. “Our ability to win close games, along with our pitching and defence, helped us get through the round robin.”  

In the final game of round robin play, the Soo dropped a 9-4 game to the eventual tournament silver-medalists, the St. Thomas Cardinals. The Cardinals, another “Dedicated Selects” team, carried a 26-4-1 record on the season heading into the tournament. Beharriell threw 3 innings in the loss, allowing zero earned runs and striking out 7 batters. 

Championship Rounds

The Soo’s 2-1 record in round robin play earned them a birth to the Quarterfinals. Paired up against the Lakeshore Whitecaps, the Soo ultimately lost a hard-fought game, 14-8. 

The Soo’s Cohen Chandler-Milito picked up 2 hits in the contest, including a double, while Judah Erickson also recorded a pair of hits. 

“As this was the first out-of-town baseball tournament for many of our players, I am very happy they had a positive experience to build on for the future,” said Henderson, who is in his second season as head coach of the team.