Team Toba, the province's midget boys softball team with nine northerners on its roster, couldn't pick up a win at the national fastpitch championships Aug. 2-9 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
The Manitoba squad opened with a 10-3 loss to Ontario's Owen Sound Volkswagen Selects Aug. 2. Jordan Richard of Cross Lake had one run and one hit in the game and Miner Castel, also of Cross Lake, pitched four-and-a-third innings, giving up six earned runs on seven hits, while striking out two and walking five.
Castel was on the mound again for Team Toba's next contest, an Aug. 3 match-up with the Nova Scotia Selects, who got past the Manitobans 6-4. Castel pitched into the fourth inning, giving up six runs on eight hits this time, with five walks and five strikeouts. Castel also scored one of his team's runs, while Richard again recorded a hit.
Norway House's Roy Ettawacappo pitched two innings in a 9-8 extra-inning loss to Cote Inox Midget Quebec Aug. 4, while also scoring a run. Richard had two runs and a hit, while fellow Cross Laker Ovide Monias Jr. had a hit as well. Clark Ross, also from Cross Lake, drove in a pair of runs with his sole hit.
The Napanee Grants Insurance Express of Ontario defeated Team Toba 11-4 later that evening. Richard scored one run, while Ross had a pair of hits.
On Aug. 5, Castel took the mound for a third time, giving up seven runs on 10 hits with a pair of strikeouts in a 14-8 loss to B.C.'s Victoria Lightning. Richard scored twice and had three hits, while Monias scored three runs and two hits while driving in three more. Ross had a pair of hits and two RBIs as well. Castel also had a hit in the game.
Manitoba's second match of the day was a 3-2 loss to the Saskatoon Selects. Ettawacappo scored both runs and recorded a hit. Castel had two hits and drove one in and Monias also recorded one hit.
The squad's final game was a 13-3 pounding at the hands of the Viking Reclamation Coyote 747s from Alberta. Ross and Ettawacappo each had a hit in that game.
The Saskatoon Mike Oaks Welding Selects were crowned national champions after beating the Sooke Blue Sox of B.C. 7-0 in the Aug. 9 final.
