The Sudbury Fastpitch Classic lived up to its name this past Sunday at the Lorne Brady Parks Sports Complex in Garson, with at least a couple of the tournament finals offering loads of drama for the fastball fans on hand.
The U17 girls final most certainly fit this billing.
With the contest tied at 16-16 and heading to the bottom of the sixth and final inning, the girls of the Mammoet Mammoths and Walden Equipment had managed to keep the fans glued to the edge of their seats.
Having already driven in a pair of runs with a key single early on, Mia Pren would lead off B6 (bottom of six), facing WE pitcher Milla Szanto who had struck out the side in the bottom of the fifth. “Milla is a really fast pitcher, so we have to take a couple of practice swings and have a plan of what we want to do,” said Pren.
“I just wanted to get on base, just try and get a hit so that my team could get the win.”
Driving the ball towards right field, Pren rounded first, knowing full well she represented the game-winning run. “I saw that they had not yet got the ball in when I was halfway to two,” said the 15 year old grade ten student at St Charles College who started recreational softball in Wahnapitae at the age of six.
“And then when I was at two, I looked a little bit to see where the ball was and thought I could make it (to third) – so I went for it."
Once stationed at the hot corner, Pren would score on a wild pitch, rewarding Mammoet pitcher Arieanna Aguonie with the win, the latter having struck out five batters over her final two innings on the mound.
The contest was a back and forth affair, with highlights that included a double and triple for Zoe Gatien (Walden Equipment) as well as an impressive grab on a short pop-up in the top of seven with the bases loaded by Mammoet first baseman Reese Minor.
The excitement of the final is just the latest sign of a revival of the sport that once drew hundreds to O’Connor Park (Flour Mill) and the Capreol diamonds in the sixties. It certainly helps move matters along with an enthusiastic local group of volunteers suddenly benefit from the influx of energy that comes with the arrival of Mississauga native and member of the 2019 Canadian Junior Women’s fastball team, Jada Gowanlock.
“I knew that I wanted to stick with fastball up here, found the right people and got involved right away,” said the 24 year old product of the Oakville Angels system who suited up with the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo Bulls not all that long ago.
“It’s been amazing – and super rewarding.”
Beyond news of the tournament including a U13 girls division - the Fort Erie Firecrackers downed the Sudbury Red Riot 14-9 in the final - came the introduction this year of a U9 introductory program this summer, fresh on the heels of a winter development camp being run at the Baseball Academy last winter.
"We try and key on their throwing ability, transitioning from grabbing the ball out of their glove and throwing it," said Gowanlock. "And we focus on hitting, getting their hips into it, keeping their elbows strong - just because those starting mechanics can be so important."
A first baseman / outfielder growing up who has picked up pitching again after moving to Sudbury, Gowanlock should know about the importance of fundamentals, knowledge she carries with her as either a player (her Super Stacked team edged the Diamond Dominators 12-11 in the Ladies Division final) or while serving as co-coach with Fran Landry with Mammoet.
"Playing is something so special to me but with coaching, I get so much hapiness and satisfaction from cheering them on," she said. "I'm so happy to help build the league up here."
