9U Black Sox Shine in First Tournament of the Season

Over the weekend, the 9U Soo Black Sox kicked off their season with an impressive showing at their first tournament of the year in Saugeen Shores, Ontario. The team travelled to the tournament in unique style, taking the Chi Cheemaun Ferry from Manitoulin Island (picture attached)

The team came out swinging, going a perfect 4-0 through round-robin play and securing a spot in the elimination rounds on Sunday. Full game scores are listed below.

Quarterfinal Thriller

In a high-energy quarterfinal matchup against the Leaside Leafs, the Black Sox found themselves down 13-11 heading into the fifth and final inning. Undeterred, the boys exploded for 7 runs to reclaim the lead. A strong defensive stand limited the Leafs to just 2 runs in the bottom half, sealing a hard-fought 18-15 win.

Semi-Final Surge

Next up was a showdown with the East York Bulldogs. The Sox came out blazing with a 7-run first inning and never looked back. A relentless offensive performance led to a dominant 27-11 victory, punching their ticket to the championship game.

Gold Medal Battle

The final saw the Sox face off once again with the Annette A’s—a team they had already defeated in round-robin play. The Sox led for most of the game, but the A’s kept the pressure on, eventually forcing extra innings. In a dramatic finish, the A’s walked it off in the bottom of the 8th inning, handing the Black Sox their first loss of the season.

Despite the tough finish, the weekend was a resounding success for the young squad. Eleven of the twelve players were making their tournament debut, and they rose to the occasion—bringing home a silver medal with a 6-1 record and an eye-popping 140 runs scored.

The 9U Soo Black Sox are off to a blazing start and are eager for the season ahead!

Game scores below.

Round Robin Game 1 vs. Innisfil Cardinals – 7-4 Win – Player of the Game Leo Bellini

Round Robin Game 2 vs. Royal York Cardinals – 25-5 Win - Player of the Game Connor Gaines

Round Robin Game 3 vs. Guelph Royals – 17-9 Win - Player of the Game Andrew Chlebus

Round Robin Game 4 vs. Annette A’s – 26-16 Win - Player of the Game Linden Louttit

Quarterfinal vs. Leaside Leafs – 18-15 Win - Player of the Game Mihkel Bykkonen

Semi-Final vs. East York Bulldogs – 27-11 Win - Player of the Game Theo Rome

Final vs. Annette A’s – 21-20 Loss – Player of the Game Napoleon Tousignant