14U Lakers go undefeated to win OBA title

With a perfect record, the Leamington Lakers 14U captured the OBA Championship in St. Thomas over the weekend.

The local squad cruised to two easy victories to start the tournament off on Friday.

Game one saw the Lakers playing the Simcoe Giants. Chris Joseph got the start for the Lakers on the mound earning the 12-2 win. The Lakers rallied for four runs in the sixth inning, racking up 10 hits in the game. Leading the way on offense was Austin Fraser with a clutch performance at the plate. Zack Liebrock earned the save on the mound giving up only one hit.

Game two on Friday saw Grant Symons pitch a lights-out game striking out seven batters to secure the win under the lights for the Lakers. The Lakers ran wild on the base paths with eight stolen bases. Josh Joseph led the team with three stolen bases and four hits to secure an 11-1 victory over the St. Thomas Cardinals.

The Lakers lined up against the Woodslee Orioles in game three. Kurtis Joseph got the ball on the mound, going five innings and striking out an amazing 11 Orioles. The score was tight early on until Holden Wiley singled on a 2-2 count in the third inning which scored three runs, securing another big win for the Lakers over the Orioles, 12-2.

In game four on Saturday, the Lakers played a tough Port Lambton Pirates team but the Lakers bats continued to find the holes to make quick work of the Pirates in only three innings. With this win the Lakers were the only team left undefeated, sending the Pirates to the losing side of the draw. Wiley led the team with four RBIs, while Liebrock, K. Joseph, and Matthew Geisbrecht each had two, resulting in the final score of 21-3.

After four games, the Lakers moved on to Sunday without a loss.

The semi-final saw the Lakers matched up against the LaSalle Titans. In the bottom of the second inning, the Lakers tied things up at three when Quinton Stevenson singled on a 3-2 count, scoring one run. Both offenses were strong at the plate but Symons had the hot hand, tallying four hits. Geisbrecht toed the rubber for the Lakers, striking out three Titans in the game, securing the 16-6 victory.

With a win over the Titans, the Lakers secured a berth in the championship final.

The final saw a rematch against the hometown Cardinals. The Lakers entered the final undefeated, meaning they had to be beaten twice by the Cardinals to be eliminated. The Lakers opened up the scoring in the first inning on a triple by K. Joseph. The offense continued with four runs in the sixth inning. The rally was led by birthday boy Brady Toupin and a double by Fraser. Carter Chorba got the start on the mound, pitching an outstanding five innings, allowing only five runs on three hits and striking out six Cardinals. C. Joseph threw one inning of relief out of the bullpen. The Lakers totaled 11 hits in the game. K. Joseph, Symons and Toupin each had multiple hits to secure a 11-5 win and the title of 2022 Ontario Baseball Association Champions.

A special shoutout to AP and bench boss for the Lakers over the weekend, Pancho Geisbrecht.

The 2022 Ontario 14U “B” champion Leamington Lakers. In front is Josh Joseph. Players standing, from left, are Quinton Stevenson, Matthew Geisbrecht, Chris Joseph, Carter Chorba, Kurtis Joseph, Brady Toupin, Grant Symons, Zack Liebrock, Holden Wiley, Pancho Geisbrecht, Austin Fraser. Coaches, from left, are Terry Symons (holding banner), Todd Stevenson, Jason Cox, Tony Joseph.

Photo submitted