saultsports 
Over the June 6th to 8th weekend in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, the Soo 18U Black Sox hosted the Thunder Bay 18U Lakers in a four game weekend matchup at IDA Park.
On Friday evening, it came down to the wire on Friday at IDA Park, as the Black Sox grabbed the victory in walk-off fashion, 8-7, over the Lakers. The game was tied at seven in the bottom of the seventh when Owen James was struck by a pitch, driving in a run.
Thunder Bay were the first to get on the board in the first when Andrew Bragnalo grounded out, scoring one run.
The Soo took the lead in the bottom of the first. Thomas Keough grounded out, scoring two runs, to give the Black Sox the advantage, 2-1.
The Lakers jumped into the lead in the top of the fourth when Carter Campbell laid down a sacrifice bunt, scoring one run, and Jacob Cook singled, scoring two runs.
The Soo took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning after Ryan Oliver singled to center field, and the Lakers 18U committed an error, each scoring two runs.
Thunder Bay tied the game in the top of the sixth thanks to a single by Campbell, and a double by Bragnalo.
Tye Turco earned the win for the Black Sox. The hurler gave up two hits and zero runs over two innings, striking out two and walking none. Braidyn Hopkins took the loss for the Lakers. The righty went four innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits, striking out five and walking three. Kolton Tremblay led things off on the mound for the Black Sox.
The starter allowed one hit and four runs (one earned) over three and one-third innings, striking out four and walking seven. Chase Cerasuolo appeared in relief for the Soo.
The Soo’s Oliver, the number seven hitter, led the Black Sox with two hits in three at bats. James, Cerasuolo, Keough, and Oliver each drove in one run for the Soo. The Black Sox had patience at the plate, piling up seven walks for the game.
Keough and Zach Allard led the team with two free passes each. The Soo turned one double play in the game.
Bragnalo provided pop in the middle of the lineup, and led Thunder Bay with three runs batted in. The cleanup hitter went 1-for-4 on the day. Cook went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead the Lakers in hits. Thunder Bay had patience at the plate, accumulating nine walks for the game. Cook and Preston Posselwhite led the team with two walks each.
In game two of the weekend the Soo had a tough game against the Lakers, The Black Sox had trouble keeping up with the Lakers 18U in an 11-4 loss on Saturday at IDA Park.
A double by Braidyn Hopkins put the Lakers on the board in the top of the first.
Thunder Bay added one run in the second. William Seaberg singled down the left field line, making the score 2-0.
A sacrifice fly by Matthew Foulds extended Thunder Bay’s lead to 3-0 in the top of the third inning.
Lucas Carriere singled to left field, which helped the Black Sox tie the game at three in the bottom of the third.
The Lakers flipped the game on its head in the top of the sixth, scoring five runs on five hits to take the lead, 8-3. The biggest blow in the inning was a single by Brooks Aylward that drove in two.
Andrew Bragnalo earned the win for the Lakers. The hurler gave up two hits and four runs (two earned) over six innings, striking out 11 and walking three. Tye Turco took the loss for the Black Sox. The reliever went three innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on six hits, striking out one and walking one. Ryan Oliver started on the bump for the Soo. The starting pitcher allowed five hits and three runs over three innings, striking out one and walking four.
Carriere led the Black Sox with one run batted in. The number three hitter went 2-for-4 on the day. The Soo turned one double play in the game.
Thunder Bay collected 13 hits in the game. Foulds, the number seven hitter for the Lakers, led the way with two runs batted in. The right-handed hitter went 2-for-3 on the day. Owen Smeltzer went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead Thunder Bay in hits. Aylward and Carter Campbell each collected multiple hits for the Lakers. Thunder Bay had a strong eye at the plate, piling up nine walks for the game. Campbell and Hopkins led the team with two walks each.
On Saturday afternoon in game three action, the Black Sox Fall After Strong Showing by the Lakers. The Soo couldn’t keep up with Thunder Bay fell 18-1 on Saturday at IDA Park.
Thunder Bay were the first to get on the board in the first when one run scored on another play.
The Lakers added to their early lead in the top of the second inning when Carter Campbell doubled, scoring two runs, and Brooks Aylward singled, scoring one run.
Thunder Bay added to their early lead in the top of the third inning when William Seaberg tripled, scoring three runs, and Campbell singled, scoring one run.
The Lakers scored eight runs on four hits in the top of the sixth inning. An error scored two runs, Campbell doubled, scoring two runs, Henry Currie induced Leland Lesperance to hit into a fielder’s choice, but one run scored, Owen Smeltzer drew a walk, scoring one run, Currie induced Jacob Cook to hit into a fielder’s choice, but one run scored, and Preston Posselwhite doubled, scoring one run.
Kooper Jacobson earned the win for Thunder Bay. The starter surrendered two hits and one run over six innings, striking out five and walking five. Lucas Carriere took the loss for the Soo. The pitcher went two and two-thirds innings, surrendering eight runs (seven earned) on five hits, striking out three and walking six.
Ty Cond, the Black Sox number eight hitter, led the team with two hits in two at-bats.
Thunder Bay amassed 14 hits in the game. Posselwhite, the Lakers’ number seven hitter, led the team with four hits in five at-bats. Campbell led Thunder Bay with five runs batted in. The leadoff hitter went 3-for-4 on the day. Seaberg collected two hits for the Lakers in three at bats. Andrew Bragnalo led Thunder Bay with two walks. Overall, the team had a strong eye at the plate, tallying 10 walks for the game. The Lakers turned two double plays in the game.
The Soo lost to the Lakers 10-7 on Sunday morning at IDA Park.
Thunder Bay were the first to get on the board in the first when Preston Posselwhite singled, scoring one run.
The Black Sox took the lead, 3-1, in the bottom of the first thanks to singles by Ryan Oliver, and Henry Currie.
Thunder Bay tied the game in the top of the second thanks to a sacrifice bunt by Leland Lesperance, and a single by Matthew Foulds.
In the bottom of the second, the Soo broke up the tie when Lucas Carriere singled, scoring one run. Then a walk by Owen James followed to extend the lead to 5-3.
Thunder Bay jumped back into the lead in the top of the third inning after Owen Smeltzer doubled to center field, and Kyler Glenn singled down the right field line, each scoring two runs.
Jacob Cook earned the win for the Lakers. The lefty gave up six hits and five runs (four earned) over two innings, striking out none and walking three. Hunter Thorkilson took the loss for the Black Sox. The hurler went three and two-thirds innings, giving up 10 runs on eight hits, striking out four and walking six.
The Black Sox amassed 11 hits in the game. Thorkilson set the tone at the top of the lineup, leading the Soo with three hits in five at bats. Currie went 1-for-1 at the plate and led the team with two runs batted in. Carriere collected two hits for the Black Sox in four at bats. The Soo turned one double play in the game.
Thunder Bay tallied 13 hits in the game. Glenn led the Lakers with three runs batted in from the number seven spot in the lineup. The right-handed hitter went 2-for-4 on the day. Andrew Bragnalo went 3-for-5 at the plate to lead Thunder Bay in hits. Posselwhite collected two hits for the Lakers in four at bats. Smeltzer paced Thunder Bay with three walks. Overall, the team had patience at the plate, amassing nine walks for the game.
Next up for the Black Sox will be a game at Marquette Post 44 White Diamonds on Friday, June 13th.
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