ANTIGONISH, N.S. – The Oxford Wildcats U12 team recently won the inaugural Baseball Nova Scotia 12U girls provincial championship banner in Antigonish.
“I know that they don't realize that they have made history, but girls’ baseball is on the rise, and it’s our little town of Oxford with the very first stamp on the map,” Wildcats coach Joe Reade said.
The tournament came down to a best of three between Oxford and LWF, which encompasses Lower Sackville, Waverly and Fall River.
Game 1 Final
“The confidence was on an all-time high going into the finals,” Reade said.
The girls lost a rainy Game 1 by a score of 13-5.
“The other team got breaks on close plays and the bats were cold, but we kept our chins high and knew our game plan would work with the pitch count, and we stuck to the guns.”
Game 2 Final
The Wildcats built their confidence off three early runs and strong pitching from Emma Tapper.
“Ella pitched four innings with two runs scored and the bats got rolling,” Reade said. “We had an 11-4, and Brooke Hunsley held on to close the game 11-10.”
Game 3 Final
With the rain coming and going, Game 3 started two hours late.
Reade said their pitching was still deep, while LWF used their best pitchers in the first two games.
Grace Weatherbee threw 50 pitches through three innings, and Lily Dickey held on two-thirds innings. Allie MacDonald came in for the save in a 13-9 marathon.
“It felt like a home game with the amount of parents and grandparents who made the trip. The support for these kids is through the roof.”
The Wildcats opened the tournament with three straight wins.
They stared with a 13-3 win over Antigonish, then beat Hammonds Plains 13-9, and then New Waterford 21-6.
The 12U Oxford Wildcats are made up with girls from throughout Nova Scotia.
“We have five girls from Oxford, one from Springhill, one from Amherst, two from Kennetcook, one from Stewiacke and one from Enfield,” Reade said. “These girls all became the best of friends in a matter of minutes. And it all came out on the field.”
He also thanks Antigonish for hosting the tournament.
“Antigonish couldn't have put on a better event for this amazing group of girls,” Reade said.
