Sr Rookies are OBA A champs

The Stratford Foodland Senior Rookies captured the OBA A Championship in convincing fashion, going 6-0 and finishing with a 10-1 win against Southwest London in Tecumseh on the weekend.

Clayton Lewis and Jared Larder led the offence with three singles each, while Game MVP Dalton Smith tripled and singled, with Nolan Grasby, and Hunter James both adding a double and single.

Larder made a beautiful diving catch in right field to rob the opponents of a sure home-run early in the game to set the tone for the Indians.

Sunday morning, with just three teams remaining in the tournament and Southwest London waiting in the finals via a bye, Stratford demolished Markham for the second time of the weekend, in a 22-4 mercy-rule win.

Brett Denny led the offence with a double, and three singles, while Smith tripled, doubled, and singled. Tanner Johnson and Derek Delafranier both doubled, and singled twice and Nathan Hall, Mitchell Casey, Grasby, and James singled three times.

Saturday night was a 16-2 thumping of then undefeated Markham. Johnson homered and singled twice for the Indians, while Ewen Flanagan, Denny, and Delafranier singled three times each.

Larder tripled and doubled, with Reid Robinson adding a double, and a single.

Saturday afternoon saw a defensive battle, and Stratford’s closest game of the tournament, in a 7-5 win over host Tecumseh. Larder cracked a home run, double, and single with Denny contributing three singles. Delafranier and Robinson both collected two singles, and Flanagan, and Grasby adding a double each.

Saturday morning Stratford defeated a strong Oakridge squad by the score of 11-6. Johnson doubled, and singled twice with Clayton Lewis and Flanagan adding three singles. Denny homered, and Larder, James, Smith, and Robinson added two hits apiece.

Stratford’s opening game of the tournament was a 14-4 mercy rule win over Southwest London. Denny and Johnson both tripled and singled twice while Hall tripled and singled. Smith and Robinson added a double and a single each.

Phenomenal team defence, consistent hitting, and aggressive base running were once again the key for Stratford throughout the weekend as the Indians turned numerous double plays, and made many outstanding catches in the outfield.

Stratford’s fantastic year included winning many championship titles, including the OBA championship, the Intercounty regular season and playoff championship and two other tournament championships. Their record for the year was 45-5-1.

PHOTO: Back row, from left: Coaches Scott Johnson, Barry Grasby, Pete Delafranier, Jerry Denny. Third row: Tyson Hall  (batboy), Clayton Lewis, Tanner Johnson, Jared Larder, Brett Denny, Derek Delafranier. Second row: Reid Robinson, Nathan Hall, Ewen Flanagan, Hunter James. Front row: Dalton Smith. (Contributed)