Fort wins RR fastball tourney

By Ken Johnston
Editor

The Rainy Royals Labour Day Fastball Classic finished Sunday with an exciting match up with Fort Frances Sight and Sound Wolves versus the Stratton Eagles.
The Eagles advanced to the finals earlier that day after knocking Rainy River out and the Wolves defeated the Winnipeg Farmers team to earn a berth in to the big money game.
Both teams had solid pitching with the Eagles’ Guy Arpin taking the mound first. It was three up three down for the Wolves.
Then former Pinewood resident, John Desaulniers and North American Fastball Association Hall of Famer, took to the rubber for the Wolves. He put the first batters out before Guy Arpin hit a single and eventually stole second. However, Desaulniers struck out the next batter, Ziggy Seguin the end the inning.
The next five innings were more of the same. Solid defense by both teams and strong pitching by Arpin and Desaulniers. It was 0-0 going into the last inning.
The only time a team was close to scoring before the seventh was in the fourth when Tom Armstrong of Stratton was thrown out at home plate. He hit a single and stole second. An overthrow at second saw him round third to come home, but he was just barely beat by the throw.
Then the Wolves started off with at triple which was followed by John Desaulniers getting an infield homer on an overthrow at third, putting two runs on the scoreboard. His brother Todd then hit a double right after him and was eventually drove in to leave the top of the seventh leading 3-0.
Wolves then shut down the Eagles again with three up three down, two of which were strike-outs for Desaulniers, win the seven team tournament. They won $1,100 and second place Stratton won $700.