The North Bay Mosquito Stingers used a combination of reliable pitching, solid defence and timely hitting to capture gold at the 2016 Innisfil Mosquito Challenge this weekend in Innisfil, Ontario south of Barrie.
Masen Wray broke open a 6-5 game with a three-run triple in the fifth inning and then scored on a passed ball as the Stingers beat the Wexford Twins 10-8 in Sunday’s final at the Innisfil Recreation Centre.
Beau Herron got the win in relief during a see saw battle that saw five lead changes. Kayden Dionne got the save in the championship game and was named Game MVP for the Stingers.
The Stingers finished the weekend with a 4 and 1 record.
Head Coach Kurtis Herron, who did a fine job handling the pitch counts for his pitchers in the tournament, says he is proud of what the Stingers accomplished in their first tournament this season.
“They played extremely well against some very good teams and we got shut down pitching and key hits at critical times during the games,” said Herron.
“It’s easy to forget that this group consists of almost all minors and that for many of them this was their first baseball tournament or first tournament at this level and that there were many teaching moments throughout the weekend.
“Each boy contributed in some way to us getting to and winning the championship game. Big thank you to my coaching staff of Joey McCharles, Rémi St. Jean, Trevor Baas, and manager Rod Sinclair as well as our all-star parents and families.”
The Stingers got off to a great start Friday night, as CJ Hummel was solid on the mound winning the game and getting MVP accolades in a convincing 15-2 win over the Whitby Chiefs.
In game two the Stingers faced the host Innisfil Cardinals on Saturday morning.
In that contest, the Stingers fell short in a 9-6 setback. Kayden Dionne was named the Game MVP for the North Bay squad.
That set up a quarter-final against the Whitby Chiefs, the same team they defeated handily in the opening game of the tournament.
In that quarterfinal against the Chiefs, the Stingers built up a 15-1 lead only to see the Chiefs even the score with 14 runs in the fourth to even the score at 15-15.
The Stingers bounced back with a run in the bottom of the fourth as Robby Baas got the winning RBI thanks to a hard working bases loaded walk as Baas and the Stingers recovered for the dramatic 16-15 victory which sent the Stingers to the semifinals. Noah St. Jean, one of three pitchers the Stingers sent to the mound in the fourth inning, got the win.
Masen Wray was named Stingers Game MVP.
In the semifinal Sunday morning Beau Herron and Masen Wray were solid on the mound in a 10-2 win over the Collingwood Jays. Caleb Dawson contributed offensively with one triple and two singles for the Stingers in the one sided victory.
Beau Herron got the win and was named Stingers Game MVP.
The Stingers team is coached by Kurtis Herron, Joey McCharles, Trevor Baas, Remi St. Jean and Manager Rod Sinclair.
Players include: Jesse Lefebvre, Masen Wray, Johnny Couch, Jacob Lefebvre, CJ Hummel, Caleb Dawson, Kayden Dionne, Robby Baas, Nate Sinclair, Noah St. Jean, Beau Herron, and Marshall McCharles.
