Junior rivals split double-header

   Tomcats host Windsor, in first meeting since Eliminations, at Emslie Field

Monday July 9, 2018

By Rob J. Ross 

ST. THOMAS - It may have been just exhibition games, but the St. Thomas Tomcats and Windsor Selects both wanted victories.

That's not surprising considering the St. Thomas and Windsor are two of the top junior programs in the province. They have also been the finalists in the past two Ontario Baseball Association Junior Elimination tournaments.

At the 2018 21U Nationals, in Gatineau, Quebec, Windsor was the silver medalist, losing to Team Quebec in the final, while the Tomcats brought home the bronze medal.

The rivals split a double-header, Sunday, July 8th, at Emslie Field, with the Tomcats taking game one, 6-2, while the Selects grabbed game two, 11-8.

"Our guys got up for this game because it's Windsor. We wanted to beat them. We're friendly and we talk with them, but it's competitive," Tomcats manager Bob Lofgren said. "That is what I wanted, for our guys to elevate their competitiveness. We battled in both games. Everybody stepped up and made a contribution."

Having Windsor in town was also good preparation for the 2018 21U men's National championship, August 15-19, in St. Thomas.

As host team of the national tournament, the Tomcats won't have to attend this year's provincial Junior Eliminations, August 4-7, in Oshawa. Windsor will be there and favoured to repeat as Ontario champions.

In game one of the double-header, the Tomcats scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning and three more times in the sixth, on a bases loaded double.

The Selects jumped out to an 8-0 lead in game two, before the Tomcats rallied to tie. Windsor scored three times with two out in the eighth and final inning.

"Great defence and great pitching by both teams and both teams hit the ball," said Lofgren. "Both teams were diving and making great plays. It was awesome."

Tyler D'Alessandro made a spectator catch in centre field during game one, preventing the Selects from scoring in the fourth inning.

Pitcher Zack Banks picked up the win in relief of starter Travis Keys, who left the game in the second inning, after a batted ball struck him in the head.

"He's fine. He got checked at the hospital," Lofgren said. "He has to take a couple days off, concussion protocol. We were lucky because that was pretty scary."

Tomcats' Daniel Lichty, Jeremy Noonen and Troy Lofgren had a good day at the plate.

St. Thomas sits fourth in the Southwestern Senior Baseball League, with a 6-5 record. The Tomcats have won four of their past five games and host Ilderton (8-5), Friday, at Emslie Field.

"It's a great league. It gets us ready. We're there to win games, but if we don't win, it's not a big deal. We're getting ready for Nationals," Lofgren said. "We've been playing well. We've had a lot of injuries. We're getting guys healthy now, after running with not a lot of guys at the start of the year."

That includes pitchers Justin McDonald, Austin Holland and Matt Thomson, each who threw a inning or two in recent games.

The Tomcats only have a roster of 16 players, but that will increase to 20 before the Nationals.  A dozen players return from last year's team.

Two veterans, currently with other teams, will rejoin the Tomcats in time for the Nationals.

St. Thomas native Michael Mommersteeg is pitching for Moose Jaw in the Western Major League, while Lawson Burnett is with the Niagara Power, in the New York Collegiate League.

Related articles:

  Tomcats win bronze at 2017 21U Nationals 

  2017 Junior Eliminations final