18u Knights 2-2 at New Hampshire Tournament

2009-06-28

Game 1
Friday - 6:00 PM  Plymouth Area High School

Ottawa Knights 3
New Hampshire Storm 2

Fresh off their first tournament win from the previous weekend, the Knights travelled to Plymouth New Hampshire this past weekend to participate in the 2ND ANNUAL NH STORM SUMMER CLASSIC WOODEN BAT TOURNAMENT

Ottawa's 1st opponent was a strong team from the host town,  Kritsch took to the hill for the Knights. The Storm took a quick lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning scoring 2 runs on 2 hits.  Ottawa responded in the top of the 4th inning with 3 runs on RBIs from 3rd baseman Mandzuk and SS Renaud.  The defence for the Knights was sparkling on this fine summer evening, Center Fielder Byrne and Right Fielder Hammond accounted for 8 fly out catches between them.  Kritsch did not allow another run in the final 4 frames as the Knights went on to win the first game of the tournament by 1 run.

Game 2
Saturday - 8:15 AM - Plymouth Area High School

Ottawa Knights 3

OEC Legion Vermont 4

The Knights got the early draw on Saturday morning vs  the OEC Legion team from Vermont.  Casey Floyd was delivering the pitches for the Knights.  Vermont would score 1 run in the 1st inning and 3 in the 4th inning.  With the score 4-0 after 4, the Knights had no answer for the OEC Legion.  Ottawa would scatter 4 hits over 6 innings but never really threatened to score, with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 6th inning, Hammond hit the ball hard to the center field fence turning the center fielder around to make a spectacular catch to end the inning.  The Knights came alive in the bottom of the 7th inning as Wes Hoppner led off with a single followed by a walk by Kritsch then Justin Carpenter reached on an error scoring Hoppner from 2nd base. Mike Byrne kept it going with a single RBI of his own followed by a Greg Harding single.  The Knights battled back to within one run but could score the tying run, a tough loss for the boys. 

Game 3
Sunday - 9:00 AM - Plymouth Area High School

Ottawa Knights 3
Brockville Bunnies 5

Game 3 of the tournament saw the Knights take on the Bunnies from Brockville. Ottawa beat Brockville in the finals of the Amherst Tournament meaning Brockville was out for blood on this day.  Tyler Mandzuk took the mound for the Knights and started strong in the 1st inning with 2 strike outs.  Ottawa's 2nd baseman Harding would score 1 run in the bottom of the 1st on a double by Hammond.   The top of the 2nd inning saw Brockville play some small ball after the 1st batter reached on a single, Brockville would score 2 runs to take the lead by 1 run.  In the 3rd, the Bunnies would add another run then in the 4th, the wheels came off the Knights defence committing 4 errors that allowed 2 runs to score.  Ottawa would threaten in the bottom of the fourth, with Renaud and Hammond reaching base when McIntyre hit a hard line drive over the right fielders head. Renaud would score but Hammond was gunned down at home.  The Knights fought back hard but could only score one more run in the bottom of the 7th inning on a Carpenter sacrifice fly.

Ottawa out hit the Bunnies in this game by a 10 to 8 margin but defensive errors would be the difference.

Game 4
Sunday - 11:30 AM - Plymouth Area High School

Ottawa Knights 8
Haverhill Post # 14 Diamonds 0

Relagated to the Consolation round, Ottawa's next opponent would be the Diamonds from Haverhill Ma.  Charlie Crabb was next up to throw the ball for the Knights.  Feeling a little down from the Brockville loss, the Knights weren't going home on a losing note.  Ottawa's Mike Bryne would go 4 for 4 in this game with 2 RBIs 3 runs scored and a stolen base.  Crabb cruised to a complete game shut out, striking out 7 batters along the way.  Ottawa would compile 11 hits over 6 innings to beat the Diamonds by a score of 8 to 0.

Ottawa travels to Scranton PA next weekend to compete in the "Moscow Devil Cat Wood Bat Classic".