The Sarnia Brigade came within a game of winning the CABC Gold Bat Tournament last year but fell just short in the final to the eventual provincial champion Newmarket Hawks. This year, the host club would not be denied as they captured the Gold Bat title with a tight 5-2 win over the Windsor Stars in the tournament finale at Stan Slack Field at Errol Russell Park on Sunday afternoon. 

The Brigade got all of the offence they would need in the 2nd inning as a 3-run HR off the bat of Brennan Healy and a 2-run single from veteran Ron Oneson would be all that Sarnia needed on this day. The Stars would get two runs back in the top of the 3rd inning on an RBI single from RF Noah Renaud and an RBI groundout from tournament top hitter Alec Boucher but that would be all the offnece they could get on this day. 

Quinton Johnsston went 4 2/3 innings on the hill for the Brigade in collecting the win. He allowed two runs (both earned) on six hits while striking out four and walking none. Jake Taylor went the last 2 1/3 innings allowing no runs on no hits and striking out one. Seth Chauvin, the first of three Stars hurlers, took the loss going 1 1/3 innings allowing four runs (all earned) on three hits while striking out two and walking one. 

The Brigade got the tournament off to a good start beating the Tecumseh Thunder 4-2 on Friday night as they got a complete game effort from Cole Brydges. He allowed two runs (both earned) while scattering nine hits striking out five and walking none. SS Core Jackson had a pair of hits in the game whole Wes Brooks had a 2-run HR and Wade Babula had the other RBI for the Sarnia club. Taylor Pappin was the hard luck loser for Tecumseh tossing six innings allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out seven. Caden Gomes (RBI) and Patrick Kibble each had a pair of hits to pace the Thunder offence. 

On Saturday, Sarnia picked up a pair of wins as they defeated the Erindale Cardinals 5-2 followed by a 5-3 victory over the Thornhill Reds of the GTBL. Against Erindale, Wade Babula went 5 2/3 innings allowing two runs (both earned) on nine hits walking none and striking out three to earn the win. Alex McLean went the last 1 1/3 innings allowing no runs or hits and striking out three. Quinton Johnston had three hits to pace the Brigade offence while Brad Hill had a 2-run HR. Brennan Healy and Aidan George each had RBIs as well. Connor Gentes took the loss for the Cards going four innings allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits walking two and striking out three. 

In the afternoon tilt, Sarnia would put up three runs in the first two innings to take an early lead. The reds would battle back in the 4th scoring three of their own to tie the game but the Brigade would put up two more runs in the 7th inning for the victory. Derek Masse started for Sarnia going four innings allowing three runs (all earned) on five hits while walking one and striking out two. Lefty Alex McLean would grab the win in relief going 2 2/3 innings allowing no runs on one hit walking two and striking out three. Greg Ross through the last 1/3 of an inning to collect the save.

Tournament MVP Core Jackson had three hits including a solo HR and three RBI to lead the Sarnia offence. Quinton Johnston had a pair of hits and Logan Buntrock had the other RBI in the game. Joseph Handley went the distance for the Reds allowing five runs (all earned) on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts taking the loss. Argenis Paz had a pair of hits and an RBI while Jacob Hillier had a two run single to pace the Thornhill offence. 

On Sunday morning, the Brigade locked horns with the Burlington Brants in the semi-finals in probably one of the best games I've witnessed in a while. Pitchers Mike Damchuk for Sarnia and Joel Connors for Burlington (2nd outing on the weekend) were entangled in an old school pitchers duel. Both would go the distance as Damchuk went seven innings allowing no runs on two hits while walking one and striking out four. Connors, the hard luck loser, went six innings allowing one run (earned) on three hits walking none and striking out 12. 

The Brigade would get their sole run of the game in the 1st inning on an RBI single from Blake Butler. Core Jackson and Logan Buntrock had the other hits for Sarnia in the game. For the Brants, Max Von Gemmigen and Anthony Rizquez had the hits in the game off of Damchuk. Logan Buntrock had a game saving catch in the 6th as he made a spectatular grab which would have scored at least one if not two Burlington runs that inning. 

Conngrats to Brigade bench boss James Grant, as well as 3rd Base coach Joel Ainsworth and the whole Sarnia coahcing staff on a great run this year at the Gold Bat Tournament.