TRURO, N.S. – The Truro Bearcats 18U AAA baseball team captured its second straight Baseball Nova Scotia championship after a 5-3 victory over the Kentville Wildcats in the final.
Connor Angers went 3-for-4 at the dish with two doubles, while Mackie Marquis and Nate Stone each added two hits. Luke Smith tripled and drove in a pair of runs and Parker Spencer added a hit. Tyler O'Leary pitched the win and struck out six.
In a semifinal, Truro doubled the Dartmouth Arrows 6-3. Angers went 3-for-4 with a triple, while Stone and Smith went 2-for-4 and with Zack Betts and Dawson Briggs singled. Chad Russell got the win on the mound.
The Bearcats opened the tourney with a 10-5 win over the Hammonds Plains A’s. Spencer doubled and singled, Connor Irwin doubled and Mats Stone, Nate Stone, Betts, Briggs and Marquis each contributed a hit. Russell and O'Leary shared duties on the mound.
In an 11-1 triumph over the Halifax Mets, Zack Betts went 3-for-4 and Russell knocked out two singles and drove in four runs. Lucas Watson struck out six and earned the win.
The Cape Breton Ramblers were the next to fall to the Bearcats by a 9-1 score. Tanner Greatorex doubled and singled and had two RBI, while Spencer, Irwin and Nate Stone shared duties on the mound.
The provincial title capped a great season for the Bearcats, who also won the National Elimination tournament in July to earn a berth at the Canadian championship in For McMurray, Alta.
While Bearcats didn't fare as well in the win column at nationals, the young athletes represented themselves and our community very well.
Truro dropped its opening game 11-2 to Manitoba, and followed with a 9-8 loss to Alberta – a game in which the tenacious 'Cats came back twice from four- and two-run deficits to set up a thrilling finish.
The Bearcats lost to Ontario 2 by a 4-0 count, and lost by the same margin to host Fort McMurray.
The coaching staff was proud of the team and how they performed on the field against some very high-calibre competition.
The Bearcats expressed their gratitude to community partners and local businesses who helped the team get to Fort McMurray.
