Major Bantam Diamonds Win London Tournament
The Chatham Diamonds celebrate after their tournament win – Contributed Photo
To open the tournament, Chatham mercied St. Thomas 10-0.
Josh Noah got the win throwing 75 pitches over 5 innings, allowing only 3 hits while walking 3 and striking out 8. Daniel Bolt went 3-for-3 with a walk at bat crushing a triple in the first. Noah and Malcom Campbell both had 2 hits, Campbell with a double and Collin Bond, Zander Wright and Ethan Boulley-Dekker each had a hit.
In game 2, the Diamonds battled to a 5-4 victory over the Bolton Braves Saturday morning.
Daniel Bolt started on the hill walking 4, striking out 6 and allowing 2 runs on 2 hits. Garret Day got the save. Darian Steele also did an inning. Boldt, Josh Noah and Sam Haight each had one hit while Collin Bond and Nolan Lucier each had 2 hits both with a double.
Game 3 found the Chatham Diamonds crushing the ball and chalking up 11 runs against Kitchener, although with a six run lead in the 5th, and time limited expired, a few sloppy errors allowed Kitchener to score 6 runs and tie the game. Malcolm Campbell started on the mound and Ethan Boulley-Dekker close the game. Boldt, Campbell, Noah, Bond, Lucier, Wright, and Steele all had hits. Campbell with a triple & double, Boldt with a double.
Chatham advanced to the semi-finals as the wild card team and played Sunday at 11am.
The Semi-finals found the Diamonds matched up with the squad from North Toronto. The Diamonds won the semi-final game 3-1 advancing them to the finals and a rematch with the Kitchener squad. Josh Noah pitched a complete game to get the win allowing 1 run on 3 hits while striking out 7. Malcolm Campbell tripled in the first after a single from the bat of Daniel Boldt (the first of 2). Sam Haight and Noah had the other 2 hits for the diamonds.
In the final, the Chatham Diamonds beat Kitchener 8-7 in for the championship title. The Kitchener Panthers never gave up, much like the night before in poll play, the Panthers were down 8-1 at the top of the 7th and managed 6 runs, but the Diamonds held them there to win by one. Daniel Boldt started on the mound going 5 inning and earning the win. Boldt allowed only 1 run on 3 hits while striking out 8. Darian Steele and Ethan Boulley-Dekker both pitched in the 6th and 7th
Collin Bond drove in 2 runs on a single and double, Sam Haight and Nolan Lucire each had 2 singles, Garret Day, Boldt, Malcom Campbell, Quinn Edwards and Josh Noah each had a hit.
Pictured Above: Front Row, L-R Daniel Boldt, Quinn Edwards, Darian Steele. Back row, L-R Coach. Mike Bond, Coach Ben Edwards, Malcolm Campbell, Coach Ron Day, Josh Noah, Garret Day, Ethan Boulley-Dekker, Sam Haight, Collin Bond, Coach JP Lucier, Nolan Lucier. (Missing – Zander Wright)