Some hope in sight for the Northern Ontario baseball community as the Sudbury Valley East Hitmen recently hosted teams from both North Bay and Sault Ste Marie for a single-day mini tournament that featured some outstanding ball. Playing at Confederation diamond in Val Caron, the Hitmen opened the festivities with a 3-1 win over the North Bay Stingers.

Starting pitcher J.D. Bryce went five innings, surrendering just one hit and striking out six in a 92-pitch performance. Offensively, Joey (Mr Drama) Hamelin keyed the attack with a clutch RBI single while Dylan Rheault and knuckleballer Shawn Specht came on in relief to silence the North Bay bats.

Game two sees the Sault Black Sox jump out to a commanding lead early, only to find the pesky Stingers' crew gradually chip away at the lead. When the dust settled, the Black Sox had chalked up an 8-6 win, setting up a final battle of the unbeaten squads.

Again, the Sault starts quickly, scoring four times in the first three innings off Hitmen starter Alex Harvey. The locals cut the lead in half, scoring twice in the bottom of the third and draw even one inning later with another pair of runs.

The team plates what would be the eventual winner in the fifth, with Bryce crossing the plate twice for coach Tony Rheault and company. First year midget Daniel Burritt comes on to work a scoreless sixth inning but runs into some trouble in the seventh.

With the bases loaded and two out, Sudbury summons fireballer Curtis Johnson, who strikes out the only batter he would face on just three pitches, earning the save. The game also featured a handful of defensive gems, including a scoop from Sudbury right-fielder Nick Beaudry and a diving stab by shortstop Dylan Rheault as well as another beauty in left courtesy of the Black Sox fielder.

Sudbury and the Sault will renew acquaintances again this weekend in the Lock City for a three-game set (weather permitting) while the preparation for OBA (Ontario Baseball Association) provincials continues the following weekend in North Bay.