The team travelled to Prince Edward Island last weekend for a series of developmental Exhibition games verses Atlantic Baseball Academy and Holland College.
For the first few innings, our boys were a bit excited and fell behind 3-0. The team scored 3 runs late to tie the game 6-6. “The Islanders” scored a run in the final inning to win the game. Diego Rodriguez pitched very well in the middle innings getting great velocity and control from his diminutive physique. Tanner MacLean hit the ball well during the visit to his hometown and was a solid fielder at first base. The entire team fielded the ball well all day.
In Game two, we played with “relaxed-aggression” throughout, which is a great baseball mindset. Cam Rendell was our star on the mound pitching smoke, hitting 88mph on the radar. He also was our top hitter over the course of the day. The defensive play of the day was a diving catch by Eric Fields in centre field doubling off a base runner. The bats came alive and we manufactured some runs in several innings to win 7-2.
In Game three, we took on Holland College, the score was tied 1-1 after the requisite 7 innings thanks to an exemplary pitching performance from Tanner MacLean! He was very impressive against the college players “mowing them down” with a great fastball and keeping them off balance with changeups and movement. The big left-hander has a very bright future. The extra inning, with runners put on base to begin play, went to the College players allowing them to win 2-1.
The team played excellent baseball at a very high level. They are “well poised to make some noise” throughout the region, in Ontario and south of the border when they get the opportunity. The process is a level of excellence in the making and this is just the beginning. Mr. Wamback has drawn excellent players with the right attitude to our School. Under his guidance, they will improve quickly, make the jump to the next level of play and put KES on the map within the baseball community.
In the words of Coach Wamback after months of COVID precautions, “Wow, it feels so great to coach a game!”