Running up a remarkable 6-1 record, the Guelph Gators U13 became the darlings of the Pan-JAM IV tournament in Ajax, Ontario but were bested for gold by rivals Halton.
“I am very proud of this team,” said coach Alex Snyder. “How they came together this weekend was remarkable. We played our best ball of the season and I look forward to the rest of the year.”
Outside of the Gold Medal game, the Gators ran up a 69-4 run differential over opposing teams over the course of the tournament.
GUELPH GATORS U13 DEFEATS HALTON HAWKS 2010 U13 SR IN PITCHER'S DUEL
The festivities kicked off for the Gators on Friday as they faced a tough test in their first game against the Halton Hawks 2010 U13 Sr. To date, Guelph had come up winless in heated but close battles against the team from Georgetown.
Both teams were strong in the circle on Friday, but Guelph defeated Halton 2-0.
Guelph got on the board in the fifth inning after Lailan T. drew a walk, scoring one run.
Morgan P. started the game for the Gators. The righty gave up nothing over four innings, striking out eight and walking three. Taylor C. tossed three scoreless innings for Guelph in relief, allowing two hits, and striking out six.
“I am very proud of this team,” said coach Alex Snyder. “How they came together this weekend was remarkable. We played our best ball of the season and I look forward to the rest of the year.”
Kaycea W., Morgan, and Rileigh T. each collected one hit for the Gators. Rileigh led Guelph with one run batted in. She went 1-for-3 on the day. Morgan stole two bases.
THE GATORS DEFEAT ETOILES RIVE-SUD 13U
Saturday morning saw the Guelph Gators win big over Quebec’s Etoiles Rive-Sud 13U 11-1 in their first outing on Saturday.
Rive-Sud were the first to get on the board in the first when Andie-Lou T. singled, scoring one run.
Guelph jumped back into the lead in the bottom of the first inning after Rileigh T. walked, Ellie M. singled, and Les Etoiles committed an error, each scoring one run.
The Gators added to their early lead in the bottom of the third inning when an error scored one run, Johanna A. singled, scoring one run, and Piper H. grounded out, scoring two runs.
Morgan P. began the game for Guelph, giving up one hit and one run (zero earned) over three innings, striking out four and walking none. Taylor C. tossed two innings of zero-run ball for Guelph in relief. The reliever surrendered two hits, striking out three and walking none.
Ellie and Johanna each collected two hits for Guelph. Johanna led the Gators with two runs batted in, going went 2-for-3 on the day. Rileigh paced Guelph with two walks.
Overall, the team had patience at the plate, collecting six walks for the game. Morgan stole two bases. The Gators ran wild on the base paths, accumulating six stolen bases for the game. Guelph turned one double play in the game. The Gators were sure handed in the field and didn't commit a single error. Ellie made the most plays, with six.
TAYLOR C. POWERS GUELPH PAST WHITBY EAGLES U13 TEAM CAMPBELL
A two-homer game from Taylor C. was more than enough as the Guelph Gators breezed past the Whitby Eagles U13 Team Campbell 18-0 on Saturday. Taylor homered in the second and first innings, scoring seven runs in the affair.
Guelph got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after Rileigh went yard to left field, scoring two runs, followed by Taylor hitting a solo shot to center field, Lailan grounded out, scoring one run, and a wild pitch scored one run.
A 13-run second inning proved insurmountable for the Eagles. Rileigh T. singled, scoring one run, Taylor doubled, scoring two runs, Morgan P. homered to left field, scoring two runs, Lailan T. singled, scoring one run, Makayla C. drew a walk, scoring one run, an error scored one run, Taylor hit a grand slam to center field, and Morgan singled, scoring one run.
The Gators were sure handed in the field and didn't commit a single error. Kaycea W. had the most chances in the field with eight.
GUELPH DEFEAT COBOURG ANGELS ON THE BACK OF CLUTCH PLAYS FROM ELLIE M.
A four-run, three-hit afternoon courtesy of Ellie M. powered the Guelph Gators past the Cobourg Angels U13 squad from eastern Ontario, 15-0.
Ellie singled in the first, scoring one. She then singled in the second, plating another. Not done yet, she singled again in the third, putting two across the plate.
Guelph also saw Taylor C., Johanna A., and Lailan T. single in the first, each scoring one run.
Six more Gators runs crossed the plate in the second inning to extend the lead to 12-0. In addition to Ellie, Morgan P. homered to left field, scoring two runs. A few batters later Piper H. singled, scoring one run, and Makayla C. singled, scoring two.
Guelph added two runs in the third, making the score 14-0.
Taylor began the game for Guelph. The righty surrendered no hits or runs over three innings, striking out eight and walking one. Morgan pitched one inning of no-run ball for Guelph in relief. The right-hander allowed one hit, striking out three, walking none.
BIG FIRST INNING LEADS GUELPH GATORS U13 PAST LYNX DES LAURENTIDES 13U AA
Overnight rains caused the Sunday games to be pushed back while the fields drained. Guelph was dealing with an unfortunate injury to Johanna A., who’s nose was feared broken in an accidental collision teams’ shared hotel pool. Despite a bump and some bruising, Johanna determined with her parents and team officials that she was fit to play.
“Player safety is paramount,” said Coach Snyder. “An injured player, no matter where or how an injury happens, needs time to get better. We’re glad that Johanna’s injury was not as bad as we first feared.”
Guelph went to work in the first inning, running up the score on the des Lynx by 10 runs in the first inning.
Morgan began the game for Guelph. The starting pitcher gave up one hit and zero runs over two innings, striking out three and walking one. Taylor C. pitched one inning of no-run ball for Guelph in relief. The right-hander allowed one hit, striking out three and walking none.
Kaycea led the Gators with two hits in two at bats from the leadoff position.
GUELPH GATORS BREEZE PAST WHITBY EAGLES U13 MACINTYRE 2023
The Guelph Gators easily dispatched Whitby Eagles U13 MacIntyre 2023 on Sunday, 12-3. Guelph was already assured a place in the Gold Medal game though their final opponents, either Halton or the Milton Bats, was being determined on a different field.
Guelph jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first after a dropped third strike scored one run, Taylor C. singled, scoring one run, Ellie M. singled, scoring one run, and Piper H. singled, scoring two runs.
Guelph Gators U13 scored five runs on three hits in the top of the fourth inning. Rileigh T. tripled, driving in three. Taylor doubled, scoring one, and Morgan P. singled, plating another.
Morgan began the game for Guelph. The right-handed pitcher allowed one hit and three runs (zero earned) over four innings, striking out eight and walking none.
Guelph amassed 10 hits in the game. Ellie, Kaycea W., Morgan, and Taylor each collected two hits for the mighty Gators.
FOURTH INNING BURST ENOUGH TO LEAD HALTON HAWKS PAST GUELPH GATORS
Still smarting from their 2-0 loss to Guelph on Friday, the Halton Hawks had something to prove to the Guelph Gators.
An 11-run fourth inning proved insurmountable for Guelph who used three pitchers in the Gold Medal affair, with Halton taking gold on the strength of a 15-0 afternoon.
Morgan P. stepped in the circle first for Guelph. The righty, who, along with batterymate Taylor C., had been the workhorses for Guelph over the weekend, allowed four hits and four runs over three innings, striking out six and walking three. The starting pitcher allowed one hit and zero runs over two innings, striking out two and walking none.
Guelph bats, which had hit everything thrown at them over the weekend, struggled to connect with Halton’s pitching. Rileigh T. led Guelph with one hit in two at bats.
“Congratulations to Halton,” Coach Snyder said. “We know when we meet them it will be a hard-fought contest. Today it went their way, and they earned that gold medal.”