AMHERST, N.S. — The Amherst Athletics are in Halifax this weekend competing for a Midget AAA championship.
The club, that went 13-1 in the AA Bluenose League this summer, was moved to Midget AAA by Baseball Nova Scotia several weeks ago.
Amherst opens at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday against the Kentville Wildcats and plays again at 5:30 p.m. against Hammonds Plains.
On Saturday, Amherst meets the host Halifax Mets at 9 a.m. before playing the Cape Breton Ramblers at 4:30 p.m.
The other pool, being played at Beazley Field in Dartmouth, includes Tri-County, Pictou County MacGregors and the Cape Breton Cubs.
The championship game is Sunday at 10 a.m.
Coach Jeff Hoeg said the move up to AAA presents a challenge for his club but the team has a solid pitching rotation including Graden Chitty, along with Cole Stevens, Cal Hoeg and Brandon Hicks while Jackson Comeau, Jayden Matheson, Julian MacDonald, Jeremiah Martin and Matthew Hunter give the club depth on the mound.
Hoeg, Chitty, Stevens and Comeau have led the team offensively as the Athletics averages 13 runs a game in Bluenose league play.
“We have a veteran squad with eight players in the final year of midget baseball,” Hoeg said. “We've been presented with a tough challenge, and I truly believe we are capable of coming home with the AAA title. I've coached most of the boys since Little League, so I know what they can do. Now it's time to let their play do the talking."
Other members of the squad include Jackson Colborne, Brady Crowe, Mike Farrell and Riley Girouard.
The Springhill Fencebusters are hosting the Under 11 Tier 4 provincial championships at Fencebusters Fields beginning on Friday as the host Fencebusters meet the Hammonds Plains A’s on Field 1 at 3 p.m.
Springhill also plays Kingston on Saturday at 9 a.m. on Field 1 and Glace Bay at 2 p.m. on Field 1.
Springhill, East Hants and Antigonish are in Pool A and Hammonds Plains, Kingston and Glace Bay are in Pool B.
Semifinal games are Sunday at 9 and 11:30 a.m. with the championship game at 2 p.m.
In Truro, the Amherst Athletics are in the Midget A provincials starting Friday at 5:30 p.m. against Cape Breton while they play Cole Harbour on Saturday at 9 a.m. and Lake Echo at 4:30 p.m.
The semis are Saturday and noon with the championship game at 3 p.m.
Truro, Pictou, Prospect and Strait are in Pool A with Amherst, Cole Harbour, Lake Echo and Cape Breton in Pool B.
