The U13 Gators faced some excellent competition this weekend!
GATORS DEFEAT THE WHITBY EAGLES TO KICK OFF THE JOHN CROSS MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
CAMBRIDGE, Ontario, June 16, 2023 – The big bats of the Guelph Gators U13s went to work early as they faced off against the Whitby Eagles U13 Team Campbell, walking away with a 20-5 win.
The game, the opener of the Cambridge Girls Softball Association’s annual John Cross Memorial Tournament, saw the Gators walk away with a 20-5 win on the strength of three homers on nine hits with no errors. The Campbells managed five runs on zero hits but committed three errors.
Kaycea W. started the game strong with a homer off the Campbell’s Izabella P. Ellie M. doubled off the pitcher, scoring Taylor C., who was walked during her at-bat. Multiple walks and hit batters hurt the Campbells and the Gators took advantage of those miscues as the Gators made it through their line up and then some, ending the inning up 10-0.
The Gators’ Rileigh T. and Taylor C. went back-to-back in the third, running the score to 20-0. Ellie M. took the mound in relief. The Campbells managed to put five across the plate before the end of the inning.
GATORS SHUT OUT BRAMPTON JUNIOR BLAZERS FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE TOURNAMENT WIN
CAMBRIDGE, Ontario, June 16, 2023 – Fresh from their convincing win against Whitby earlier in the day, the Guelph Gators took the field against the Brampton Jr. Blazers looking to prove that the morning’s win was no fluke.
Morgan P. took the mound for the Guelph Gators. She struck out the first two batters she faced but was wrung up for a line drive by the Blazers’ Skyler S., who reached base on an error and advanced to second on the same error in the field. Morgan P. set the Blazers back to the dugout by striking out the next batter, stranding the runner on second.
The bottom of the first saw the Gators playing small ball with a single by Kaycea W., consecutive walks to Rileigh T. and Taylor C. Batter Ellie M. grounded into a fielder’s choice that saw Kaycea W. thrown out at home. Rileigh and Taylor advanced to second and third on the play. Morgan P. hit into a fielder’s choice that saw Rileigh cross the plate but Taylor out at third. Ellie M. took second on the play.
The Gators’ Johanna A. was issued a walk to load the bases. Lailan T. reached first on an error to the pitcher, pushing Ellie T. across the plate. Lailan advanced to second then third on the same error which saw Ellie M., Morgan P. and Johanna A. score.
GUELPH GATORS BEAT OAKVILLE ANGELS 5-2
HESPELER, Ontario, June 17, 2023 – A three-run fourth saw the Guelph Gators put the game out of reach for the Oakville Angels. The Gators put the pressure on, led by an error on a ball put in play by Piper H. and a double by Morgan P.
Morgan P. led things off in the pitcher's circle for Guelph, going went four innings, allowing zero runs on zero hits, striking out 11 and walking none.
Kaycea W. went yard in the third with none on.
The win against the favoured Angels saw the Gators pushed their tournament record pushed to 3-0.
LASALLE ATHLETICS HUMBLE THE GATORS
HESPELER, Ontario, June 17, 2023 – Riding the wave of three consecutive wins to start the tournament gave the Guelph Gators momentum they had hoped would carry them through against tougher teams and the weekend classic wore on.
Unfortunately for the Gators, they ran up against a tough LaSalle team in their fourth game of the series.
The Gators fell behind early and couldn't come back in a 13-2 loss as Guelph struggled to contain the high-powered offense of A’s.
Morgan P. was on the rubber for Guelph. The pitcher lasted four innings, allowing three hits and six runs while striking out seven and walking one. Taylor C. threw two-thirds of an inning in relief.
Taylor C., Kaycea W., and Morgan P. each managed one hit for Guelph.
GATORS WIN PLAY-IN AGAINST OAKVILLE ANGELS STIX, 4-1
HESPELER, Ontario, June 18, 2023 – The right to play for tournament medals was on the line when Guelph Gators U13 faced off against the Oakville Angels STIX early Sunday morning. The Father’s Day tilt between the two teams would see the Gators, smarting from a Saturday afternoon loss to LaSalle, earn the right to play in a medal game.
Guelph got things moving in the first inning. Ellie M. drove in two on a single, followed by Morgan P. reaching on an error, then reaching second, then third on the same error.
Morgan P. was on the rubber for Guelph. The pitcher surrendered zero runs on one hit over four innings, striking out 12 and walking zero.
The Gators tore up the base paths, as two players stole at least two bases. Kaycea W. led the way with three to notch a 4-1 win and the right to advance to the medal games.
HALTON HAWKS WIN IN A WALK-OFF
HESPELER, Ontario, June 18, 2023 – With the right to play for gold medal on the line, the Guelph Gators grabbed an early lead over the rival Halton Hawks. Unfortunately for the Gators, a late-game surge by the Hawks offense would prove too much as a vocal Hawks team won in a walk-off.
Guelph got things started in the first with Ellie M. driving in one on an earlier walk issued to Kaycea W. Rileigh T., who walked earlier in the inning, advanced to third on the play.
With Morgan P., on the mound, walks and a wild pitch saw the Hawks tie the game in the bottom of the first in a pitcher’s battle.
The Gators tallied three runs in the third with the big bats of Taylor C. and Ellie M., sending runners across the plate with RBIs in the inning.
After Guelph scored one run in the top of the fifth, Halton answered with one of their own. Guelph scored when Rileigh T. tripled on a 2-2 count, scoring one run.
Unfortunately for Guelph, the Halton Hawks would push the tying run over the plate with a walk-off triple to end the game.
GATORS LOSE A CLOSE ONE TO MILTON IN BRONZE MEDAL GAME
HESPELER, Ontario, June 18, 2023 – A rocky first inning for the Guelph Gators was a sign of things to come in the bronze medal game against the Milton Bats.
Guelph evened the score in the second inning with a long ball that went yard courtesy of Johanna A. For Guelph, it would be a day of moral victories as Milton pulled away for good, earning bronze in a 6-5 win.
“We win as a team and we lose as a team,” said head coach Alex Snyder. “We play the game hard, but we play it fair and we play it with integrity. It is just as important as hard work and hustle. I am so proud of these girls and how they conduct themselves towards their teammates and other teams.”
