RFH 15U Lakers back to back OBA champions

With a perfect record the Reid Funeral Home Leamington Lakers 15U captured the OBA Championship in Tilsonburg over the weekend to become back to back champs. 

The team cruised to an easy victory to start the tournament off on Friday. Game one saw the Lakers playing the Orangeville Bengals. Kurtis Joseph drove in five runs on two hits to lead the Lakers past Orangeville. K. Joseph doubled in the third scoring three, singled in the second scoring two, and walked in the first scoring one. The Lakers flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the first, scoring nine runs on five hits to take a 9-1 lead. 

The biggest blow in the inning was a double by Grant Symons that drove in three. The Lakers collected 14 hits in the game. Austin Fraser, Brady Toupin, K. Joseph, Carter Chorba, and Max Carr each collected two hits. Fraser and Josh Joseph each stole multiple bases and the team didn’t commit a single error in the field. K. Joseph earned the win and MVP of the game on the mound. 

The Lakers were triumphant in game two over the Woodstock Wranglers 8-3 on Saturday morning. The Lakers got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after J. Joseph singled, and K. Joseph was struck by a pitch, each scoring one run. 

The Lakers added to their early lead in the bottom of the third inning when an error scored two runs, and Matthew Geisbrecht hit a sacrifice fly, scoring one run. Chorba took to the rubber to start the game giving up only one hit and zero runs over two innings, striking out three and walking four. M. Geisbrecht pitched two and two-thirds innings of scoreless ball for the Lakers in relief. The righty surrendered zero hits, striking out four and walking none. Quinton Stevenson earned MVP of the game after smashing several long ball hits to the outfield. 

Game three on Saturday saw a rematch of last year’s final with the Lakers taking on the St. Thomas Cardinals. Symons led things off on the mound for the Lakers. The right-hander pitched a complete game, surrendering only one hit, striking out seven and walking two, earning him the MVP of the game. The Lakers accumulated 10 hits in the game. Stevenson, J. Joseph, K. Joseph, and M. Geisbrecht each collected two hits. Symons and Chris Joseph each drove in two runs. The Lakers thumped the Cardinals 10-0. 

In game four on Sunday morning Noah Friesen collected three hits in four at bats, as the Lakers defeated the Chatham Diamonds. Friesen went 3-for-3 and helped the Lakers take a healthy lead in the top of the fifth, scoring six runs on four hits to take a 6-1 lead. The dagger in the inning was a single by Toupin that drove in three runs. 

Friesen followed up his success at the plate with a great outing on the mound for the Lakers earning MVP of the game. Stevenson and M. Geisbrecht each appeared in relief to finish off the Diamonds 10-7.

The Lakers had 10 hits in the game. Toupin and M. Geisbrecht each drove in two runs while Fraser and C. Joseph each collected multiple hits. J. Joseph paced the Lakers with three walks. Overall, the team had patience at the plate, collecting eight walks for the game.

The Lakers had a quick turnaround before Sunday’s semi-finals. With a few slices of pizza to refuel the Lakers took on a tough Grimsby Coyotes team. The Lakers got on the board in the first inning after Toupin singled, scoring one run.

In the bottom of the third, the Lakers scored five runs on three hits to take a 6-1 lead and never looked back. The biggest blow in the inning was a single by Friesen that drove in two runs. 

K. Joseph got the call on the mound again for the Lakers giving up only three hits in four innings of work, striking out five and walking six. Toupin appeared in relief for the Lakers on the mound and went 3-for-4 at the plate. J. Joseph was steady behind the plate nabbing several Coyotes running on the base paths. Toupin and J. Joseph were named MVPs for the game.  

Fraser was hot at the plate again going 2-for-3. The Lakers turned one double play and didn’t commit a single error in the field eventually taking the win 9-6 and securing a spot on Championship Sunday without a loss. 

In the final the Lakers took on the Tillsonburg Otters who would need to beat the Lakers twice to claim the win. 

The Otters opened the scoring in the first but the Lakers grabbed the lead in the top of the second thanks to singles by K. Joseph and M. Geisbrecht. 

Team AP Pancho Geisbrecht came in to pinch run for his cousin and with his great speed eventually came around to score and add to the Lakers lead in the third inning. 

Chorba began the game for the Lakers. The starting pitcher allowed five hits and two runs (only one earned) over five innings, striking out six and walking two. In Jordan Romano style, C. Joseph came in to close out the game for the Lakers, securing a 6-2 final and back to back championships. 

M. Geisbrecht had the hot bat in the final going 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs. Fraser, K. Joseph, J. Joseph each had multiple hits for the Lakers.