In a double knockout provincial championship format, it's always best to try and avoid being tagged with your first loss as late into the tournament as possible.
Well, at least the Hardrock Custom Apparel Angels did not drop their opening game of the Slo-Pitch Ontario Division "D" playdowns.
After kicking off the event in early September with a 16-15 extra inning win over Got Rice from Mississauga, the locals suffered a 24-16 setback to the Blue Devils from Angus in game two.
Forced down to the losing side of the bracket, the Angels reeled off eight straight wins just to earn a rematch with the Devils, and this time around, all was right with the world, as the heavenly bodies swept two straight games from the bad boys down under, earning their banner in the most difficult way imaginable.
Their run of victories would see the Hardrock Custom Apparel crew defeat, in succession, Next Generation (Woodstock - 19-7), Busters (London - 11-6), Aggression (Peterborough - 22-15), Throwbacks (Windsor - 17-10), Rockhounds (Toronto - 33-14), Juice Monkeys (London - 21-10), Canadians (Hanmer - 19-6) and Hangovers (Toronto - 19-7).
Facing the Blue Devils and needing to emerge triumphant in back to back games to earn divisional bragging rights, the northern squad bested the Angus reps by scores of 10-6 and 11-5.
Logan Bayer was named tournament MVP, while pitcher Al Soucy walked only a single batter over the course of the 12-game grind.
Playing no less than seven games in a span of ten hours on Sunday, the Hardrock Custom Apparel Angels' lineup included Chad Goulet, Al Soucy, Grant Kilganon, Jesse Audette, Chris Holden, Dave Fabilli, Ralph Dimatteo, Logan Bayer, Tim Clarke, Matt Gibson, Jason Provincial, Scott Ginson, Guy Farmer, Ray Audette, Kyle Lalonde, Brad Pothier, J.M. Frappier, Joel Moncion and Levi Provincial.
