Oxford Wildcats WIN Silver at Provincials... Again...

    The 2003 Oxford Wildcats have once again captured Provincial silver in a long and controversial match against Eastern Passage. Oxford had three controversial calls go against them at the plate in the process of losing the game to Eastern passage.

Oxford Wildcats WIN Silver at Provincials!!!

The Home Sweet Home Building Products Oxford Wildcats concluded their successful season by placing second in the Mosquito Provincial "D" championships held recently in Oxford. The Kentville Wildcats won the tournament with a convincing 12-2 victory over Oxford in the championship game.

Oxford could only muster three hits in the final gameagainst Kentville. Cole Wood started the game for the  Oxford team. Kentville scored four runs in the first off of three hits, a walk and two errors to take a 4-0 lead. With back to back triples by R.J. Wilson and Tony Reid  and then a ground out by Andrew "Daryll" Bragg Oxford managed to close the gap a bit and make the score 4-1

When Oxford took the field  Cole struck out the first batter right away. But the next up managed a single. Then the third hit an easily fielded hit right to R.J. Wilson who gobbled it up, touched second then rifled the ball to third base to convert the double play and end the inning. Cody "Speedy" Stevens managed a single in the third which would prove to be Oxfords final piece of offensive power in the game. Kentville took a 5 to 2 lead after 3 innings on a double and some poor defensive works on Oxfords part.

Bobby Selby replaced Barret Cochrane on the mound for the Kentville team.  Selby, the tournament MVP, struck out all six batters he faced in the game.

The fourth inning proved rather disastrous for the host Oxford team. Kentville feasted off of R.J. Wilsons pitching. When that was combined with some bad defensive work and some mental mistakes it all added up to Kentville scoring nine runs through the inning. Andrew "Daryll" Bragg relieved a battered RJ to finish the inning.

"The kids played a very good Kentville team. We tried but could not match their pitching. Cole pitched well, but the Kentville team just loved R.J.'s straight even fast balls." said coach Norman Sawler. "Their Defence was not spectacular" remarked coach Paul Dormiedy. "We just could not hit the ball past their pitcher or first baseman"

"We played this team in July and they knew we could not touch their pitching. We managed only three hits in two games. This Oxford team averaged 13 runs a game for the year. But, even Kentville's coach said that we had improved a lot since we first faced them." Coach Norman Sawler then added "Hey! There's nothing wrong with second place finish!"

Oxford opened the tournament with a convincing 15-5 win over the Eastern District winner Pictou Yankees. Oxford scored four runs in the first off of four hits, highlighted by Nick Dormiedy's double and R.J. Wilsons triple. Oxford starter Andrew "Daryll" Bragg had a shaky start. But to his credit only one runner scored and he did leave the bases loaded.Oxford scored three more to take a convincing 7-1 lead after two. Pictou scored one in the third to close it to 7-2. Luke Porter relieved Bragg in the fourth. Pictou scored three runs on hits, a walk and an error to close the score to 7-5. However Oxford broke it open sending fourteen batters to the plate in the fifth scoring eight runs to take an overwhelming 15 to 5 lead. Luke Porter kept Pictou off the bases ending the game. 

Kentville then beat Woodlawn 17 to 6 in the second game of the tournament by scoring 11 runs in the fifth inning. 

Oxford played and beat the Central District winner Woodlawn Warriors 14-4. Woodlawn came out swinging and scored two runs on four hits, leaving two men on base. Not to be outdone Oxford also scored two to tie the game. Woodlawn did not score in the second however Oxford scored seven times to take a 9-2 lead. Woodlawn scored one in the third, but then Oxford responded with three to take a 12-3 lead. Neither team scored in the fourth. Luke Porter pitched himself into a jam in the fifth walking three batters and giving up a single that brought one in to score, but then he struck out the next batter leaving the bases loaded. Leading 12 to 4 Oxford then scored two more runs to end the game in the fifth due to the 10 run rule.

Brett Mattinson was Oxfords player of the game with three hits and three runs. Cody "Speedy" Stevens and Cole "Pepi" Wood both had three hits and Nick "Pickle" Dormiedy and Mike Ried both chipped in with a pair of singles each.

Kentville, the western district winner, beat Pictou, setting up a battle with Oxford. With both Kentville and Oxford at 2 wins and no losses the worst either team could do was second place.

Logan Van Glarcomand Sean Croft pitched a no hitter against the Oxford team. Kentville won 11-0. The game was a lot closer then the score would allow you to know. It was only 2 to 0 for Kentville until the third inning. Again, errors by the Oxford defence allowed Kentville to score four runs and take a convincing 6 to 0 lead. Kentville scored four more in the fourth and one in the fifth. Cole "Pepi" Wood, Oxfords player of the game, pitched quite well. Luke Porter came in relief of Cole in the final two innings.

In the Bronze Medal game Woodlawn held off a determined Pictou team in what was probably the best game of the entire series. In the end Woodlawn took the bronze with a sparse 10-9 victory that was almost lost in the bottom of the sixth. Pictou had scored four runs to bring the score to 10-9 and the tying run was on third base before Woodlawn could record the third out.

"We were 2-1, Kentville 3-0. We had to beat them twice to become provincial champions. Again, second place is the best any team in this organization has ever accomplished," said Coach Sawler."The kids played quite well. The best thing is, Next years Mosquito team should be quite good. They are loosing only four starters and six in total, form this years team. Paul (Coach Dormiedy) and I are quite proud of the 2002 Oxford Wildcats." he added.