Tritons qualify for slo-pitch nationals

The Men’s gold winning team. Credit: PSP

Peter Mallett, 
Staff Writer

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The Esquimalt Tritons Slo-Pitch team defeated CFB Winnipeg in the Gold Medal Game of the Canada West Regional Slo-Pitch Tournament with a 12-6 victory on Aug. 26 in Wainwright, Alta.

The win earned them a berth at the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Men’s Slo-Pitch Championship tournament in Edmonton, Sept. 19 to 23.

Petty Officer First Class (PO1) Troy Kendrick, Tritons Team Captain, said the team feels upbeat about their chances at the Nationals.

“I’m very optimistic,” he said. “As a team, we are approaching it with the mindset of ‘Do your job and nobody can beat you’.”

His spirit is buoyed by the Tritons winning five of their six games at the regional tournament. Esquimalt defeated Cold Lake, Moose Jaw, and Edmonton twice, with the only loss of 21-15 to Comox in their second game of Round Robin.

PO1 Kendrick hit two home runs in the championship game. Major defensive blocks came from the gloves of outfielder Acting Sub-Lieutenant Caleb Stuckless and shortstop Chief Petty Officer Second Class Rob Tibbetts, hanging on for the win.

PO1 Kendrick said his pitcher, Sailor First Class (S1) Eric McRae, was ‘on fire’ and earned game MVP honours.

“He delivered a pitching gem and allowed the opponents only six runs over seven innings,” PO1 Kendrick said.

He said that, unfortunately, S1 McRae would be attending a career course at the time of the game in Edmonton and thus unable to suit up.

“Player availability always seems to be an issue for the Navy and not having Eric for the Nationals will be very difficult for our team to overcome,” PO1 Kendrick said.

At press time, a schedule had yet to be released for the Nationals, and it was unclear who Esquimalt would face in their first game.   

Women win silver

Esquimalt’s Women’s Slo-Pitch team will not be competing at CAF Nationals. The Tritons lost to Edmonton in their gold medal game at the Canada West Regional Qualifying Tournament, also in Wainwright.

Despite a nine-run 7th inning, the Tritons ended their CAF Finals dream with a 30-19 defeat and settled for the tournament’s silver medal instead. The team won three games and lost one in Round Robin play. They defeated Winnipeg 19-0 in the semi-finals to qualify for the tournament championship.

Members of the Esquimalt Tritons team celebrate after their 19-0 victory over Winnipeg in the Women’s Slo-Pitch Regionals tournament in Wainwright, Alta. Credit: PSP