Westisle Wins Gold in 2018 PEISAA Senior “AAA” Baseball
The Westisle Wolverines, despite coming into the semifinals seeded fourth, did not back down and played some terrific fundamental baseball last night at Memorial Field, Charlottetown, to win the 2018 PEISAA Senior “AAA” Baseball Championship. Westisle defeated the Montague Vikings 8-1 in the final to capture the crown.
This was the first gold medal for baseball in Westisle’s history, in their fourth straight year making it to the Finals (they won silver medals in 2015, 2016 and 2017). Montague won PEISAA silver in their first year of playing PEISAA Senior “AAA” baseball.
Championship Game: 8-1 Westisle
In a playoff-type atmosphere – under the lights, cool breeze and a fog/mist falling - with both the lower-seeded teams winning their semifinals (Montague [3] beating Bluefield [2] and Westisle [4] upsetting Three Oaks [1]), this game was anticipated to be electric. Montague got out to the early lead, scoring one in the second inning, but Westisle would score four runs in the third inning, two in the fifth inning and two in the sixth inning for the emphatic win. Westisle’s Alex McRae earned the pitching win, allowing only one run on one hit, walking seven and striking out nine Montague batters. Jack MacKenzie was the losing pitcher, allowing six runs - only two earned – on six hits, walking four batters and striking out three. Joel MacEachern pitched one inning of relief for Montague, giving up two runs – one was earned – on one hit while walking two and striking out one Westisle batter. Defense was a story in the game, with Montague committing six errors while the Wolverines did not commit any (and one committed one error in their two playoff games). Jack MacKenzie had the only hit for Montague (going 1-3) while Westisle’s top batters were Garrett Culleton (1-3, BB, RBI, 2 runs scored), Chandler DesRoches (1-3, SAC, RBI, run scored), Nathan Grigg (1-2, BB, 1 run scored) and Aiden Williams (1-2, BB, run scored),
Semifinal #2: 2-0 Westisle
This was a highly anticipated game, with the Three Oaks Axemen finishing first overall in PEISAA regular season play with a record of 4-1, but their only loss coming at the hands of Westisle (with a 3-2 walk-off win in Tignish on 29 September). Westisle finished in fourth with a 3-2 record. It did not disappoint, with terrific pitching and defens
e on display. Chandler DesRoches was the winning pitcher for Westisle, throwing a complete-game shutout and allowing only two Three Oaks hits while striking out eleven batters and walking five. Dylan McCormack was the losing pitcher for Three Oaks, giving up two runs – one earned - over six and a third innings, allowing two hits while walking five Westisle batters and striking out ten. Ben MacDougall pitched two/thirds of an inning for Three Oaks, allowing no runs on two hits and striking out one. The top batters for Westisle were Garrett Culleton (2-4, 2 RBI), DesRoches (1-3, BB) and Chase Gaudette (1-3, BB), while Kalib Snow (1-2, BB) and Ethan Beaulieu (1-3, BB) had the only hits for Three Oaks.
Semifinal #1: 2-1 Montague
Sam MacKenzie hit the unconventional two-run bunt single in the top of the seventh inning to give the Montague Vikings the lead, and Montague held on to defeat the Bluefield Bobcats 2-1. Bluefield came into the game confidently, finishing round-robin play with a record of 4-1, good enough for second place, while Montague was third at 3-2. However, Montague was resilient the whole game and it paid off for them in the seventh inning. Isaac MacNeill was the winning pitcher for Montague, allowing one run on four hits, walking two Bluefield batters and striking out six. Dylan Cameron was the hard-luck loser for Bluefield, allowing two runs – neither earned – on three hits, walking four while striking out nine Montague batters. Sam MacKenzie (2-4, 2 RBI) and Jack MacKenzie (1-3) had Montague’s hits, while Nick Havenga (2-3, run scored), Nathan Mahar (1-3) and Jude Rist (1-3) had Bluefield’s hits.
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