16U Cardinals capture OBA AA title
Matthew East tosses a complete game four hitter in the final
BURLINGTON, Ont. - The St. Thomas 16U Cardinals are ending the season on a high note as provincial champions.
St. Thomas swept through the 12 team 16U AA championship undefeated, ending with a 6-4 win against Milton in the final Sunday, at Nelson Park.
Tied 4-4 into the bottom of the sixth inning, St. Thomas scored a pair of runs and then held Milton scoreless in the top of the seventh.
Evan Campbell doubled in two runs including the game winner.
The Cardinals led 3-0 after one inning and 4-1 after five.
Ben McCoubrey and Evan Campbell each had a pair of RBIs. Finn O'Sullivan had a pair of singles and Matthew East, a double and RBI single.
East tossed a complete game four hitter, striking out four batters and walking just one.
The Cardinals swiped 33 total bases in the tournament and the thievery continued in the final with six stolen bases.
St. Thomas opened the tournament, dropping the High Park Hawks, 10-4. The Cardinals jumped out to a 6-1 lead and pumped out 14 hits in the game.
Quinn Wilson went three-for-four, including a double, with two RBIs and scored three runs. Shantz also had three hits, while O'Sullivan had two singles, drew a walk and drove in two runs.
Linkin Kellington swiped three bases.
In game two, the Cardinals held off St. Catharines for a 5-3 victory.
The Cardinals used seven hits and four St. Catharines errors during win number two.
Wilson tripled in two runs in the third inning. Aidan Rutkauskas had two singles, drew a base on balls, had a RBI and scored a run.
O'Sullivan pitched a four hitter in a 3-1 defeat of Brantford, improving the Cardinals to 3-0.
Kellington and Ayden Annett, each had two hits and Wilson, Rutkauskas, on a triple, and Creed Green, the RBIs. McCoubrey hit a grand slam and Green had three hits and three RBIs, leading the Cardinals to a 19-7 smack down of Burlington.
East had three singles and two RBIs. Kiark Kewley reached base on a single, walk and an error and came around to score three times.
Along with 13 hits, the Cardinals were busy stealing bases, 14 in total, led by Brown who swiped four.
St. Thomas finished 5-0, adding to an overall 2026 record of 39-2-2.
In August St. Thomas won the London District playoffs after finishing first in the regular season.
The Cardinals took tournament gold at Brampton, London and St. Thomas.