Minor Mosquito Diamonds Win Home Tournament
The Chatham Diamonds Minor Mosquitos, tournament champions – Contributed Photo
Ayden McKinlay was a force at the plate all weekend, collecting multiple hits in each game. McKinlay opened the tournament with a pair of doubles in a 20-2 win over the LaSalle Titans. Jacob Williams threw a complete game, one hit performance, striking out 7. Owen Reeve, Hunter Myers, and Tyler Ewald each had two singles as well.
In their second round robin game, a 13-7 win over the Clarington Orioles, McKinlay launched a home run, and also had a triple to lead the Diamonds. Williams and Myers also each had two hits, while Tevin Kelly took the win on the mound.
Facing London West in their third game, the Diamonds built a lead, but couldn’t hold on, losing their only game of the tournament, a 15-14 defeat. Ayden McKinlay and Owen Reeve had three hits each, while Trent Stephenson, Ethan McDonald, Kurt Countryman, Dominic St. Amand, and Tevin Kelly each had singles.
After their first loss, the Chatham Diamonds Minor Mosquito team rebounded for a 16-7 win over the St. Thomas Cardinals, who they would eventually face in the final. McKinlay had a double and two singles, Ayden Blain and Jacob Williams had two hits, and Alex Chickowski added a triple at the plate. McKinlay was also the winning pitcher, striking out 8 batters in Chatham’s final round robin game.
Advancing straight to the final, Chatham again faced the St. Thomas Cardinals, and again took a lopsided victory, this time 12-2 to capture the tournament title. McKinlay had a triple and single, while Hunter Myers had a double and single to lead the Diamonds in batting. Trent Stephenson and Ayden Blain combined on a 7 inning 4-hit win from the mound.