Bantam Golden Eagles Qualify For Provincials

This past weekend, the Bantam Chatham Golden Eagles took part in one of two tournaments being held to determine who would qualify for the PWSA Tier 2 provincials being played in two weeks in Cobourg. The Golden Eagles played in Palmerston, with the other tournament was played in Ancastor.

Chatham had a strong showing, finishing third, with the top four at each tournament advancing. The bronze medal win qualified the Chatham Golden Eagles for the Tier 2 provincials, the highest provincial level this age group has ever achieved.

Playing Cambridge Friday night in the double knockout tournament, Chatham beat them by a mercy rule victory, 14-0. The winning pitcher was Aliyah Whiteye who pitched all five innings. Whiteye allowed only one hit and 2 walks while striking out 6. At the plate, Whiteye, Carys Owen, Sydnee Baker, Kaley Veldboom, Hannah Roesch, Maddy Alexander and Katreena Whiteye all had 1 single in the win.

Facing North Oxford Saturday morning, Chatham won again, this time taking a 7-6 decision in 7 innings on a walk off hit by Maddy Alexander. The winning pitcher was again Aliyah Whiteye who pitched the final 4 and 2/3 innings allowing two runs on 5 hits and 3 walks while striking out 6. Hannah Roesch pitched the first 2 and 1/3 innings allowing 4 runs on 3 hits and striking out 2. Roesch doubled while Owen, Alexander and Madison Goodwin each singled against North Oxford.

Next up was Desboro who beat Chatham 5-2 in a game which contained a rain delay. The losing pitcher was Hannah Roesch who pitched all 7 innings. She allowed the 5 runs on 7 hits and 1 walk while striking out 3. Sydnee Baker, Kaley Veldboom, Aliyah Whiteye and Shayna Carey all had singles.

The rain caused everything to be pushed to Sunday where the Golden Eagles defeated Palmerston 5-3 in 7 innings at 8:00am. Aliyah Whiteye pitched all seven innings allowing just 3 runs on 4 hits and 5 walks while striking out 4. This win put Chatham in the final four, guaranteeing they would qualify for the Tier 2 provincials. Kaley Veldboom had two singles, Hannah Roesch, Madison Goodwin, Aliyah Whiteye, Shayna Carey and Katreena Whiteye all had singles.

Chatham then played Whitby at 10:00am, beating them 6-2 in what would be the bronze medal game. The winning pitcher was Hannah Roesch who pitched all seven innings. Roesch allowed 2 runs on 4 hits and struck out 3. Sydnee Baker had 3 singles, Carys Owen had a double and single, Maddy Alexander had a double, and Kaley Veldboom, Shayna Carey and Katreena Whiteye all had singles.

With a chance to advance to the final, Chatham then faced off against Brampton at noon, but fell to the eventual champion, losing 4-1. Hannah Roesch was the losing pitcher going 5 and 2/3 innings, allowing all 4 runs on 8 hits and striking out 2. Aliyah Whiteye pitched the final 1 and 1/3 innings giving up 1 hit and striking out 1. Hannah Roesch, Carys Owen, Madison Goodwin and Maddy Alexander all had singles.

Brampton went on to beat Desboro twice to win the gold, Desboro got the silver and Whitby got fourth place and will also be heading to provincials. At the Ancaster tournament, Brantford, Kitchener, Waterloo and Cobourg each qualified for the Tier 2 provincials as well.

Pictured above – Front row left to right: Hannah Roesch, Katreena Whiteye, Sydnee Baker, Kendra Goodwin, Kaley Veldboom, Aliyah Whiteye. Back row left to right: Coach Britney Shepley, Carys Owen, Maddy Alexander, Coach Jim Roesch, Madison Goodwin, Shayna Carey, Coach Jay Owen. Missing from the photo are Chloe Drew, Coach Matt Drew and Maddy VanRycheghem.