1985 Kinsmen Bantams won in Kincardine but bowed out of OBA tournament at home

By C. Scott Holland

The Leamington Kinsmen Bantams put up a valiant effort in the six team 1985 OBA playdowns but ran into one team that was hotter than they were.

The locals reached the OBA semi-finals in the A series but bowed out with a 2-2 record. Their nemesis was a team from Huron East (London).

In the opener of the tournament, the Leamington club defeated Oakville 6-2. That was followed by them facing Huron East who defeated the Kinsmen 5-2.

Leamington bounced back though, with a 5-2 victory over Barrie to keep them in the running for a place in the finals.

However, as luck would have it they had to face Huron East a second time, which they lost 6-5.

The highlight of the weekend tourney in Leamington was the opener, in which pitcher Greg Knox was near invincible facing Oakville. Knox tossed a one-hitter while striking out 15 and walking five.

In the second contest, Brandon Klein got the call to start but was gone by the second inning. Sam Raffoul finished up in relief of Klein as the club lost 5-2.

1985 Leamington Bantams at their July tournament in Kincardine. The locals won the championship there, but bowed out of the OBA tournament back home in Leamington on Labour Day weekend. Back row: Steve Babkirk, Rick Schell, Gary Quenneville, Greg Knox, Kevin Hall, Mike Vorkapich Jr., Jason Wuerch. Front row: coach Bill Wuerch, Tony Joseph, Michael Sleiman, Aldo Cervini, Brandon Klein, coach Mike Voorkapich Sr. Absent was Sammy Raffoul.

Jason Wuerch started against Huron East in their second meeting and lasted until the sixth inning when Raffoul took over. Leamington rallied to knot the contest 5-5 in the top of the seventh, but Huron East chipped away and got the winning run in the bottom half of the frame. The final was 6-5 and with the loss, the Leamington club’s run was finished.

Earlier in the season, the Kinsmen Bantams captured the B division of the annual Kincardine Baseball tournament in July.

Leamington beat Tecumseh 8-6 in the final after trailing 5-4 . The locals picked up two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to ice the victory.

Brandon Klein, pitching in relief of starter Greg Knox, got the win.

They allowed eight hits, struck out six and walked three.

Leamington had easily won their three preliminary games on their way to the championship by beating Listowel, Pelham and Kincardine. Knox hit a pair of triples to pace the offense in the title game.