Battle
at the Beach 2022
It was another action-packed weekend for
our Beachin’ Saugeen Shores Sting U11 PWSA Girls’ team as they hosted the 2022
Battle at the Beach right here at Cameron Park in Saugeen Shores and battle
they did!
The weekend here in Saugeen Shores started with a tough opponent as the girls faced the Stratford Flames late in the afternoon on Friday, June 10. The girls struggled to put runs on the board with a three up, three down scenario at the top of the first. Then, Elliana Cameron took to the mound and unfortunately, the Flames were able to score five runs on three hits as the fielders had a tough time defensively containing the powerful bats of the Stratford players. Our Sting girls tried their best to rally at the plate with Penelope Martin and Elliana Cameron leading the team with multiple hits but the Flames proved stronger launching four home runs during the game and accumulating multiple runs. Sadly, our Sting team were forced to concede defeat with a final score of 3 – 16.
Shortly thereafter, our Saugeen Shores team took on the Windsor Wildcats in a nail biting, tension filled game. Our U11 girls fired up the offense in the first inning, scoring one run on a stolen base. The Wildcats retaliated with a couple runs of their own as Elliana Cameron started on the mound once again. The righty threw some great pitches though and went two innings, allowing only one hit, two runs and striking out five. It was looking good for the Sting girls as they racked up eight hits including multiple hits by Olivia Clark and Janey Harris. But despite holding the lead for the first four innings and committing no errors in the field, they were defeated when the Wildcats managed to score in the last inning. It was a heartbreaker of a game with a final score of 4 – 6.
Things started looking up for the Saugeen Shores Sting team on Saturday morning as they got to the diamond and after executing a short ritual of “waking up the bats”, the girls were ready to take on the Waterloo Ghost Gold. And waking up the bats was obviously the right thing to do as our Sting team started things off early with Elliana Cameron hitting a home run on a 1-0 count, scoring two runs. It was a high-scoring, exciting game as the Waterloo Ghost tied things up in the bottom of the first inning. The Saugeen Shores Sting started pulling away by scoring five runs in the second inning which included a fabulous grand slam home run by Olivia Clark. The Waterloo Ghost retaliated with a five run inning of their own but our Sting girls came back and scored another five run inning led by hits from Olivia Clark and Lane Topham. Brooke Lamont earned the win for Saugeen Shores. The right-hander went one and one-third innings, allowing one run on four hits, striking out three and walking one. Peyton Myatt threw two-thirds of an inning in relief out of the bullpen. Spirits were high as the girls garnered a much needed win over the Waterloo Ghost Gold with a final score of 15 – 12.
Now that their bats had been “woken up”, the girls were ready to face the Chatham Golden Eagles and they sure didn’t disappoint. Elliana Cameron started off on the mound and wowed the crowd with some incredible pitching as she allowed zero runs on zero hits and striking out three in only nine pitches. Brooke Lamont and Peyton Myatt entered the game in relief as the three pitchers combined to throw a shutout. The girls didn’t disappoint at the plate either as Olivia Clark started the game off right with a single, scoring a run in the first inning. Saugeen Shores tallied two home runs during this game as Peyton Myatt hit a dinger in the third inning and Brooke Lamont went long in the fourth inning. They put up five runs in the fourth inning as Brynlie Wilcox, Brooke Lamont and Janey Harris all contributed in the big inning with RBIs. Janey Harris went 3 for 3 at the plate to lead the Saugeen Shores team in hits. It was a big win for this young team with a final score of 11 – 0.
The following drizzly Sunday morning, found our young athletes playing against the Guelph Gators in the semi-final match for the bronze medal game. Elliana Cameron singled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring one run to start off the game. Then Saugeen Shores Sting put up five runs in the third inning with Brynlie Wilcox, Brooke Lamont, Janey Harris, Olivia Clark and Elliana Cameron each had RBIs in the frame. Elliana Cameron got the win as she surrendered zero runs on zero hits over one inning, striking out three and walking zero. Peyton Myatt and Brooke Lamont entered the game out of the bullpen with strong showings on the mound to close out the game. Saugeen Shores tallied nine hits in the game as Lane Topham, Penelope Martin and Elliana Cameron all managed multiple hits to help the team get the win and a final score of 12 – 4.
After defeating the Guelph Gators, our Saugeen Shores Sting team were ready to face off once again against the Windsor Wildcats for the chance to win the Bronze medal. The overcast skies and frigid temperatures certainly didn’t hinder the girls as they went looking for a different outcome than the previous Friday evening’s heartbreaking loss to the wildcats and found it. The Wildcats got things started early in the first inning with a single that scored two runs. But our Sting girls were quick to retaliate and pulled away for good with five runs in the third inning with Brooke Lamont starting things off with a solo home run. Then Olivia Clark grounded out, scoring one run. Elliana Cameron doubled on a 0-1 count, scoring two runs and Lane Topham drew a walk which brought in another run. The hits kept on coming as Maelle Wiles smacked a home run in the fourth inning and Lane Topham and Brooke Lamont each had multiple hits. Brooke Lamont pitched Saugeen Shores to victory. The rightey went two innings, allowing zero runs on one hit, striking out six and walking zero. Peyton Myatt entered the game in relief out of the bullpen with her usual strong pitching to end the game with a winning score of 11 – 3 and a bronze medal for our Beachin’ Saugeen Shores Sting U11 PWSA girls’ team.
It was an incredible weekend of baseball and a privilege to watch these girls rally after a two game loss and come back to win the bronze. Players and coaches alike should be proud of their accomplishments over the weekend and I, for one, applaud their positivity, tenacity and determination. They never gave up and fought on to win a well-deserved bronze medal and I look forward to watching them continue to hone their skills, show us their confidence at the plate and hit more home runs!