Play Ball! Congratulations Peter and Steve on your All Ontario High School Championship win! What a thrill to be able to represent your school and go right to the top. Sorry I missed your first interview on Sports-Line. Good luck in Cincinatti Steve! [edit] – Pictures available here.
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It was so exciting watching the boys play at the Rogers Center. Peter caught both games and Steve played center and left field. He was the closing pitcher in the championship game. It was Bako on the mound pitching to Bako at the plate (Bak to Bak). The boys both got their pictures in the Toronto Sun and the Toronto Star. The team was treated at Rogers private skybox at tonights Blue Jay game. They were the best high school team in the province. Steve missed out as he flew to Cincinati this morning to join up with his Ontario Blue Jays team.
Spartans crush Warriors
Lorne Park captures Prentice Cup title
First loss in two seasons for Loyola
DAVID GROSSMAN
SPORTS REPORTER
The underdog Lorne Park Spartans thumped the Loyola Warriors 6-2 yesterday to capture the Prentice Cup provincial baseball championship.
The loss snapped Loyola’s 24-game winning streak. It was sweet revenge for the Spartans, who lost to Loyola in the Region of Peel final.
“We remembered what the coaches told us after losing to Loyola in the final, to look around and watch someone else celebrate and realize what we lost,” said Lorne Park starter John Christian.
A three-run third inning by the Spartans did most of the damage.
Seventeen-year-old Christian led the Spartans from the mound and at the plate.
Christian gave up two runs in a rusty first inning, but then buckled down, striking out six batters and scattering four hits in a complete seven-inning game
He also got what proved to be the winning run, coming around to score after belting a double in the third-inning rally.
He also had a stolen base, a clutch RBI and got hit by a pitch.
“I knew this game would be special. The slider was great, the curve, just kept guys off balance and I had a defence that was solid. Me at the plate, that was a bonus. They use me when and where they need me and that’s what counts,” said Christian, who only saw spot duty as a pitcher this season.
Lorne Park coach Scott Price said he was proud of his team, which finished the season with a 17-4 record.
“There’s nothing bigger than winning (the Prentice Cup) and having a great athlete like Christian and a team that can come from behind, makes it even sweeter,” he said. “Loyola felt some pressure for the first time this year from a team that was better.”
Loyola coach Bill Newton said Christian was the difference.
“He’s one of the premier players in Ontario and when he got stronger, the momentum just swung from us to them and it got to us,” said Newton.
“Losing your only game in two years in the final can be tough but it shouldn’t detract from what these guys have accomplished,” said Newton.
With a 2-0 lead, Warriors pitcher Matthew Piccini got into trouble in the first inning, hitting a batter, then was called for a balk and was caught snoozing when Brendan Emmett stole home. Piccini was also on the mound for Lorne Park’s third inning, when the team batted around.
“It’s rare stealing home and give him credit for catching me with my back turned, but those three runs and some missed calls really hurt us the most,” said Piccini.
Lorne Park, on an RBI triple by Steve Baco, squeezed out a 1-0 semifinal win over Dunbarton earlier in the day while Loyola, with an inside-the-park home run by Chris Piccini, dumped Gonzaga 6-2 in the other semifinal.
Original link at Thestar.com