Windsor stings Tomcats again in final

Windsor scored in the first inning and still led 1-0 after three and half innings. St. Thomas tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to a RBI single by Troy Lofgren. The Tomcats attempted to take the lead on a single from Zac Desa, but Hayden Regnier was thrown out at the plate. St. Thomas did score the go ahead run in the fifth, on a Lawson Burnett RBI sacrifice.

Windsor tied the affair at two, when Noah Renaud reached base on a fielder's choice, stole second and scored on a two-out single by Kyle Renaud. In the eighth, a pair of singles, two intentional base on balls, an error and a Kyle Gagnon RBI, combined to help Windsor push the winning and insurance runs across the plate.

"They (Windsor) had the lead-off guy on and we couldn't turn two. He's fast," Tomcats manager Bob Lofgren said. "Their number two guy hit Mommer's (Tomcats' relief pitcher Michael Mommersteeg) best pitch. It was one of those things. We made a couple errors and couldn't make that play to seal the deal."

Windsor starting pitcher Matt Krutsch, the Selects' player of the game, went seven and two-thirds innings, allowing just one earned run, on seven hits and three base on balls, while striking out nine batters. Alex Lamont pitched in to the seventh inning, before Mommersteeg took over.

St. Thomas and Windsor, both advance to the National under-21 championship, in Ottawa and Gatineau, Quebec, August 17-20.

See complete schedule for Baseball Canada 21U championships.

Troy Lofgren was named tournament's top hitter, batting .571 and drawing three walks.

The Tomcats had a few thrillers on their way to the final, including a gem pitched by Travis Keys, for a 5-1 win over Mississauga Sunday night. Regnier, who missed three games due to an eye infection, returned to the line-up, going four-for-four, with a home run and three RBI, in the game that advanced the Tomcats to the final.

The most memorable game may be the comeback early on Sunday.

"The game that sticks out for me is the Hamilton game," said Tomcats' third baseman Garan Stevens, who went two-for four, in the final. "We were down 7-1 and then the boys rallied. That was one of the cooler things I've ever saw in a baseball game. We came around and kept our season alive. We went out and hit through the order (scoring eight runs in one inning). It was awesome."

St. Thomas won 12-7, during a game that catcher Troy Lofgren was steam-rolled at the plate. He, and the Hamilton base runner, was then ejected from the game. In addition, Troy was suspended for the Mississauga game.

Matt Brooks, in his first game of the tournament, due to work commitments, delivered the winning hit against Hamilton.

"We battled hard, pitched well and played good defence and had timely hits," manager Lofgren said. "It was a team effort and that's what we needed to do. Everybody did something to contribute for us.

"We made some great defensive plays. Garan Stevens made two highlight plays that shut innings down this weekend. Also (shortstop) Lawson Burnett."

The only blemish is not being able figure out the Selects, who behind Jack Zimmerman, the tournament's top pitcher, beat the Tomcats in the opening game.

"Zim was their top pitcher of the weekend and he pitched lights out against us. He deserved it (win)," Bob Lofgren said.  "Their catcher said it was the best game he's ever pitched."

Windsor's centre-fielder and lead-off batter, Noah Renaud, was named tournament MVP, batting .410, with six runs scored.

"We're playing loose.  Everybody is contributing. It shows when you lose game one and come all the way back to the final," said Stevens, who has played in two Canadians, at the midget level, both with the London Badgers.

Teams heading to Canadians are allowed a certain number of pick-ups to add to their roster, but barring any player required at their U.S. school prior to Canadians, the Tomcats are sticking with their 18 players.

 "We're looking forward to Nationals. We're hoping all of the guys can go. Some of the guys have to call their coaches and get the ok to come down late. Hopefully their coaches understand," Bob Lofgren said. "Our plan is that we're going with our guys. We'll do our best, have fun and represent Ontario and St. Thomas."