Lakers take two divisions at Laker Classic tournament

20 teams take part in three-division tourney

By Mark Ribble

Two of the three Leamington teams hosting the 4th annual Lakers Classic tournament on the weekend took top honours for their divisions.

The Leamington Lakers 14U and 12U teams both won their respective championships, while the 9U team finished with a 1-1 record but did not advance past the round-robin portion.

Leamington Laker Owen Rousseau is safe at first in a game against Bytown on Saturday. The ball skipped away from the Bytown first baseman just before the photo was taken.

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Lakers 12U #9 Pancho Heinrichs goes airborne and slides safely into second base as Kingsville’s Mac Pucovsky (23) receives the throw from left fielder Vittorio Ruggirello.

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In the 14U division, the Leamington Lakers defeated the London Talons 8-2 to take the title, while in the 12U division, the Lakers engaged in an ‘all local’ battle for the title with the Kingsville Knights and came out on top 12-2.

Both Lakers teams went undefeated on their way to the championship.

Kingsville had beaten Tecumseh 10-2 in the semi-final of the 12U division, while London had edged Milton 7-6 in the 14U division.

Leamington Lakers 12U team celebrates their championship. Back row, from left, are assistant coach Tony Youssef, assistant coach Bob Grundner, Adam Lowen, Owen Rousseau, Ben Liebrock, Pancho Heinrichs, Isaiah Georges, Aiden Lowen, head coach Ryan Georges. Front row are Isaak Jr. Giesbrecht, Johnny Giesbrecht, A.J. Youssef, Jonathan Grundner, Ryan Sawatzky and Jackson Wall.

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LAKERS 14U DIVISION CHAMPS

Leamington Lakers 14U Reid Funeral Home Lakers celebrate winning the championship at the 4th annual Laker Classic on the weekend. Back row, from left, are coaches Todd Stevenson, Tony Joseph, Jason Cox and Terry Symons. In the middle row are Zack Liebrock, Brady Toupin, Quinton Stevenson, Joshua Joseph and Curtis Joseph. In the front are Matthew Giesbrecht, Austin Fraser, Christopher Joseph, Grant Symons, Holden Wiley and Carter Chorba.

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Leamington first baseman Curtis Joseph stretches to get the out at first base during the championship game against London on Sunday afternoon. Leamington pitcher Matthew Giesbrecht watches from the mound.

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The 9U semi-final game on Sunday produced a barn-burner as London (blue/gold) edged Kingsville 15-14. This Kingsville Knights runner was safe at first base on the play.

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Tournament scores

All of the scores from the weekend’s Lakers Classic baseball tournament.

9U Division

Leamington 12, Blenheim 7, London 15, Leamington 10, Kingsville 18, Essex 15, Woodstock 11, Kingsville 4, Dorchester 18, Essex 1, London 18, Blenheim 5, Woodstock 14, Dorchester 0, Kingsville 13, Dorchester 5, Woodstock 20, Essex 8, Kingsville 13, Blenheim 5, London 15, Essex 5, Dorchester 21, Leamington 19, Woodstock 15, Dorchester 6, London 15, Kingsville 14, Woodstock 10, London 2 (championship)

12U Division

Leamington 10, Woodslee 8, Tecumseh 6, Riverside 2, Chatham 14, Kingsville 14, LaSalle 19, Bytown 6, Leamington 13, Riverside 2, Tecumseh 14, Woodslee 5, Kingsville 19, Bytown 6, LaSalle 12, Chatham 0, Leamington 19, Tecumseh 2, Woodslee 10, Riverside 9, Chatham 19, Bytown 2, Kingsville 17, LaSalle 12, Leamington 15, LaSalle 5, Kingsville 10, Tecumseh 2, Leamington 12, Kingsville 2 (championship)

14U Division

Leamington 13, London 6, Milton 16, Ancaster 3, Leamington 12, Forest Glade 0, London 13, Milton 4, Forest Glade 18, Ancaster 3, Milton 3, Forest Glade 2, Ancaster 12, London 8, Leamington 13, Milton 5, London 14, Forest Glade 4, Leamington 14, Ancaster 0, Leamington 13, Forest Glade 0, London 7, Milton 6, Leamington 8, London 2 (championship)