The Howe Sound Cannons made a strong return to the diamond this past weekend, defeating the Pirates in the Lumberjack Icebreaker final by a score of 5-0.
The Icebreaker featured four teams from the North Shore Men's Baseball Association (NSMBA) battling it out in a round-robin format and the Cannons emerged from the weekend unscathed, winning all three games.
"This wasn't an official tournament,justthe season opening Lumberjack Icebreaker," said the Cannons' David Jones. "A way to test the waters with future plans on holding an official tournament annually."
The games started on Saturday (April 30) with the Cannons beating the Moose 6-5 and downing the Brewers 7-6. The Pirates also had a good Saturday, defeating the Moose 10-2 and upending the Brewers 9-1. Thus, the stage was set for the finals on Sunday (May 1), with both the Cannons and the Pirates putting their undefeated records on the line.
"The final game went into extra innings," Jones said. "In the top of eighth,Justin Krazanowski lined a ball off the centerfield fence, scoring'Vintage' Kelvin Mackie for the game's winning run. The teamscored four more runs that inning to put the game away."
The Cannons ended up posting a 5-0 over the Pirates to take home the trophy as the Icebreaker's top team.
Jones praised the dedication of Cannons stalwart Jeremy Galley and the umpiring crew.
"Galley was a talented workhorse all weekend," he said. "He made curfew, umped two games and pitched a three-hit shutout in the final game on Sunday. All the teams involvedwere very appreciative toformer slugger Troy Morphy (who is sidelined and awaiting surgerywith an upper body injury for the entire season).
"After an umpire cancellation, he stepped up and donned the old District 5 umpiring equipment to show us how it is done.After the umpiring cancellations, without these two and local umpire crew, Calem Gardner, the weekend would have never happened."
The weekend also marked the return of Cannons legend "Big Rig" Smitt. According to Cannons first baseman Tyler Magee, his return to the diamond was spectacular.
"Big Rigg Smitt's return was most triumphant," Magee said."It ended up being everything that had been anticipated. He hit anything and everything that was thrown at him during the weekend,including two home runs. The first one he hit so hard thatI swear itprobably landed at Totem Hall. Thesecondone got out in ahurry while the crowd chanted 'Big Rigg! Big Rigg!'"
The Cannons will play for real starting on Saturday (May 7), when they travel to Parkgate North field to take on the Pirates in their season opener. They will then take on the Reds at Parkgate South field on Monday (May 9). The Cannons have their home opener at Laroy Watt Field on May 28.
For more information on the Cannons, visit www.ballcharts.com/hscannons.
