The following is a brief look at the 16 teams that will be attending the Hap Walters Tournament this coming weekend hosted by the COBA Major Baseball League. Play kicks off on Friday evening with the tournament final happening Sunday afternoon in Milton at 1pm

 

Division A

Erindale Cardinals (COBA)

Thornhill Reds (GTBL)

Kincardine Cubs (MOSBL)

Newmarket Hawks (GTBL)

 

The Erindale Cardinals came out of the gates hot this season as they got off to a 5-1 start in league play. Since then they have been a little hit and miss with some inconsistent play. The club currently sits with a 8-8 record in COBA Major League play. They went 2-1 at the Lakeside Tourney narrowly missing the playoff round. 
 

Key Players

Aaron Palmer (.418, 5 2B, 13 RBI)

Jason Woodford (.319, 6 2B, 3 HR, 22 RBI)

Pip Murray-Smith (.389, 2 2B, 10 RBI)

Johnny Dewolfe (.356, 2 2B, 13 RBI)

 

Kevin Lucas (3-2, 2.79 ERA, 12 K)

Adam Forsey (2-1, 8.72 ERA, 17 K)

Daniel Zelezko (2-0, 1.50 ERA, 7 K)

 

The Thornhill Reds had a rough go to start the season as they dropped their first five league contests of the year. They bounced back strong though as they went on to win eight straight before dropping a pair of games in Kendal last week putting their record at 8-7. They went 2-1 at the Vaughan Tourney and were slated for a semi-final game before rain washed out Sunday. 
 

Key Players 

Russell McGibbon (.433, 2 2B, HR, 5 RBI)

Zach Lampreia (.500, 4 2B, 7 RBI)

Jonas Press (.333, 3 2B, 5 RBI)

Pat Orr (.324, 3 2B, HR, 7 RBI)

Mike Bannon (2-1, 2.08 ERA, 33 K)

Danny Garcia (1-1, 5.40 ERA, 21 K)

Chadwick Cameron (0-2, 2 Sv, 3.71 ERA, 16 K)

 

After a two year hiatus, the Kincardine Cubs are back this season as members of the Midwestern Ontario Senior Baseball League. I don't have a lot of information about the club but they are currently 5-5 in league play this year. They played the 2019 Provincial Champion Sarnia Brigade last weekend dropping the game by a narrow 6-4 score. 
 

Key Players 

Chris Inkster

Paul Boyadijan

Tyler Marcinko

Scott Austin

 

Nate Kramer

Chris Inkster

Tyler Middleton

 

The Newmarket Hawks currently sit in the middle of the pack of the GTBL standings. They have shown some flashes of brillance at times during the season but have followed that up with some inconsistent play at times which has them sitting at 8-6-1 overall. They were 2-1 at the Vaughan Tournament which had them in a semi-final before sunday got washed away by rain. 

 

Key Players

Brian MacDonald (.429, 3 2B, 3 HR, 18 RBI)

Dan Telford (.406, 2 2B, HR, 9 RBI)
Troy McLoughlin (.381, 7 2B, HR, 6 RBI)

Owen Taylor (.298, 5 2B, 8 RBI)

 

Andrew Raponi (1-1, 3.00 ERA , 25 K)

Connor Elbaum (2-0, 3.46 ERA, 6 K)

Christian Mullen (1-2, 7.52 ERA, 25 K)

 

Division B 

Milton Red Sox (COBA)

Mississauga North Jrs (COBA Jr)

Kendal Eagles (GTBL)

Ilderton River Hawks (SWSBL)

 

The Milton Red Sox are currently sitting around .500 right now in COBA Major League play with a 9-8-1 record. After a bit of a slow start this season, the club has been playing some solid baseball as of late both in league play and tournaments. They recently traveled to the Lakeside Tournament in London going 2-1 in round robin play good for a semi-final appearance. They ended up losing to the eventual tourney champs from Tecumseh 2-0 but showed they can play with some of the best teams in Ontario.

 

Key Players

Sean Alp (.462, 7 2B, HR, 17 RBI)

Kevin Greer (.351, 4 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 14 RBI)

Brandon Chong (.333, 6 2B, 24 RBI)

Michael Ong (.312, 3 2B, 9 RBI)

 

Chris Cloes (3-1, 3.30 ERA, 25 K)

Tyler MacKillop (2-1, 7.27 ERA, 21 K)

Dylan Clark (1-3, 6.95 ERA, 20 K)

 

Can't find too much information about the Mississauga North Jr club. In past years, they have attended this tournament and have played well against some strong Sr calibre programs. According to the COBA Jr Baseball League site, they are currently 9-0 in league play right now. 

 

The Kendal Eagles seems to be getting hot at the right time in the season right now. Their 11-6 record has them firmly planted in 1st place in the GTBL standings a couple of games up on Leaside and Newmarket. The Eagles are fresh off of a pair of wins over the red hot Thornhill Reds giving them a push in the right direction coming into the tournament this weekend. They were 1-2 at the Vaughan Tourney missing the playoff round. 

 

Key Players

Ryley Davenport (.386, 4 2B, 4 HR, 15 RBI)

Mitch Wilbur (.375, 3 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 12 RBI)

Logan Stewart(.370, 5 2B, HR, 7 RBI)

Reilly Walters (.290, 2 3B, 3 HR, 11 RBI) 

 

Ethan Nichols (3-0, 2.00 ERA, 24 K)

Josh Arce  (2-1, 7.20 ERA, 11K)

Corey Robinson (2-0, 1 Sv, 5.63 ERA, 4 K)

Jesse Elliott (1-2, 1 Sv, 3.43 ERA, 23 K)

 

The Ilderton River Hawks are one of two teams in this year's field from the Southwestern Sr. Baseball League in the London area. There is not a lot of information available about the team by way of stats but in league play they are currently sitting with a 6-6 record. They have attended two tournaments this year making the semi-finals in Vaughan winning the QF game over the Leaside Leafs and then going 1-2 at Lakeside missing the playoff round. 

 

Key Players

Daniel Litchy

Preston Carr

Nolan Anderson

Kevin Bowden

 

Jordan Townshend

Ryan Beckett

Travis Keys

 

Division C

Etobicoke Rangers (COBA)

Brampton Royals (COBA)

Ajax Spartans (GTBL)

Strathroy Royals (SWSBL)

 

The Etobicoke Rangers are back in league play after a couple of season off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rangers seemingly picked back up where they left off as they are currently sitting with an 8-3-2 record in league play good for 2nd overall in the league only a point behind the Burlington Brants. The Rangers roster has overgone a bit of a transiton phase with some veteran guys returning to the club supplemented by some new young talent. Etobicoke went 2-1 in tournament play in London narrowly missing out on the playoffs by run differential. 

 

Key Players

Alex Thrower (.467, 6 2B, 8 RBI)

Michael Ferracuti (.396, 4 2B, 2 HR, 18 RBI)

Ryan Panas (.350, 5 2B, 8 RBI)

Daniel Murphy (.348, 3 2B, 5 RBI)

 

Andrew Hyde (3-1, 2.67 ERA, 32 K)

Corey Vandergraaf (2-0, 1.00 ERA, 19 K)

Brendan Lyons (2-0, 4.50 ERA, 20 K)

 

The Brampton Royals have been having a good season to this point. They currently hold a 9-7 record in league play which has them percentage points out of 1st place in the COBA Major loop. The Royals have returned quite a few of their veteran leaders but have added a large youth presnece from their very strong Jr program helping to bolster the Sr club. They have faired well in tournament play making the semi-finals in Vaughan and losing to a strong Tecumseh club in the final at Lakeside. 

 

Key Players 

Aidan Murphy (.422, 2 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 16 RBI)

Sam Lebel (.400, 2 2B, 2 HR, 17 RBI)

Joe Ferreira (.378, 4 2B, 5 HR, 14 RBI)

Vic Speciale (.312, 3 2B, 13 RBI)

 

Arman Lakhani (2-1, 4.50 ERA, 12 K)

Steve Hough (1-1, 3.37 ERA, 12 K)

Cameron Hibbs (1-1, 7.82 ERA, 8 K)

 

The Ajax Spartans came out of the gates hot in GTBL play thios year. The Spartans managed to start the year 5-1-1 and held a commanding lead atop the league standings. The team has faltered a bit over the past few weeks though as they now sit at 5-7-1 overall and 5th place in the league. The team has shown a lot of inconsistent play over the last few weeks but have the pieces to put together a good run in this tournament. They were 1-2 in divisional play in Vaughan and missed out on the playoff round. 

 

Key Players

Matt Krettek (.361, 5 2B, 5 RBI)

Sean Molony (.358, 5 2B, 3B, HR, 12 RBI)

Jesse Dynes (.340, 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI)

Drew Roberts (.314, 2 2B, 6 RBI)

 

Corey Jeffrey (2-0, 2 Sv, 2.40 ERA, 20 K)

Sean Molony (1-0, 4.66 ERA, 6 K)

Pat Vecchiarelli (1-1, 8.16 ERA, 16 K)

 

The Strathroy Royals are the second team from the Southwestern Sr Basbeall League that will be in this year's Hap Walters field. The Royals are currently in 2nd Place in the SWSBL standings with a 7-4 record. They participated in the Lakeside Tournament this year as well going 1-2 in a very tough divisional round and narrowly missed out on the playoff round. 

 

Key Players

Matt Cook 

Justin Cook 

Mitch Roy

Mike Ambrose

 

Matt Cook

Justin Cook

Tyler Annett

Jake English

 

Division D

Oakville A's (COBA)

Burlington Brants (COBA)

East York Bulldogs (GTBL)

Leaside Leafs (GTBL)

 

The Oakville A's have had a rough go this season in COBA Major League play. The club is currently 1-13 in league play this year picking up their first win last week on the road. The team has had a bit of a turnover personnel wise this year and are currently trying to build themsleves into a good spot in the second half of the year. The team attended the Lakeside Tournament this year and went 1-2 in divisional play missing out on the playoff round. 

 

Key Players 

Vic Christensen (.444, 3 2B, 3 3B, 10 RBI)

Ryan Freemantle (.414, 2B, 2 3B, 9 RBI)

Nick DiGennero (.310, 2 2B, 3 3B, 6 RBI)

Marc Walton (.268, 2B, HR, 10 RBI)

 

Steve Shum (1-1, 7.31 ERA, 14 K)

Peter Zytner (0-0, 11.15 ERA, 8 K)

Matt Chisamore (0-2, 9.58 ERA, 10 K)

 

The Burlinton Brants have been one of the hotter team in the COBA Major Baseball League over the course of the last month. The Brants had a big of a sluggish start but now sit at a record of 9-5-1 and 19 points which is good for 1st overall in the loop as of right now. The Brants have yet to take part in any tournaments this season so it will be interesting to see how they match up against some strong teams from around the province. 

 

Key Players

Tim Sogan (.441, 2 2B, HR, 10 RBI)

Corrie Morrison (.370, 3 2B, 3B, 16 RBI)

Anthony Rizquez (.339, 6 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 17 RBI)

Max Von Gemmingen (.300, 5 2B, 12 RBI)

 

Cam Ryerson (2-0, 1 Sv, 3.60 ERA, 9 K)

Trevor Woodjetts (1-0, 2 Sv, 4.69 ERA, 29 K)

Jordan Rienzo (3-1, 7.41 ERA, 28 K)

 

The East York Bulldogs have had a few struggles this year as they currently sit with a 4-13-1 record in GTBL league play. After a slow start to the year, the team is playing a little bit better the last few weeks in their league play. They also went 3-0 in London and made it to the semi-finals before bowing out to the Brampton Royals in this game. 

 

Key Players

Peter Samonas (.400, 7 2B, 7 RBI)
Steve Andreopoulos (.380, 2 2B, HR, 11 RBI)

Che Andrews (.333, 2B, HR, 12 RBI)

Anthony Fera (.325, 5 2B, 3 HR, 17 RBI)

 

Adam Garner (1-2, 6.95 ERA, 11 K)

Austin Fraser (0-2, 11.05 ERA, 13 K)

NIck Collett (0-2, 6.59 ERA, 8 K)

 

The Leaside Leafs have had another productive season this year in GTBL play. The Toronto based club currently sits with a 9-6-1 record and sole possession of second place in the GTBL league standings. The Leafs return a large veteran presence on their team this season and have added a few pieces to help bolster their roster. Leaside went 2-1 at the Vaughan Tournament this year but loss to the Ilderton River Hawks in the quarter final game Saturday night. 

 

Key Players

Henry Yap (.381, 3 2B, HR, 6 RBI)

Noah Koffman (.378, 5 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 14 RBI)

Nick Manoukarakis (.364, 3 2B 3B, 11 RBI)

Ben Baker (.360, 4 2B, 3B, HR, 10 RBI)

 

Jeremias Sucre (2-0, 1.38 ERA, 29 K)

Jorge Frugoni (2-2, 2.95 ERA, 9 K)

Chris Goodale (1-2, 8.29 ERA, 14 K)

 

Best of luck to all of the teams taking part this weekend!!