Page 45 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 104

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #104 September 2021 45

Cornwall Majors Division Rep Team Hosts Ball

Tournament, Takes First

By Casey Leger

ocal baseball is back with a
Lvengeance. “Honestly, it’s a great
feeling and a blessing to be back to play.
After being sidelined for so long, the
thrill and excitement of close games,
hard work, and just being on the field is
exhilarating,” says Nathan Van Putten,
head coach for the Cornwall Majors
Division rep team.
Close games are exactly what
Cornwall got in mid-August when they
hosted teams from around the region
in what was, before COVID, an annual
affair. “Both the kids and the coaches
went into the tournament without much
expectation,” says Coach Van Putten.
“For most of these kids, the first game
of the tournament was just their fifth
competitive game of baseball this year,
after coming back from last year’s
hiatus.”

Cornwall opened the tournament
with a 4-2 win in extra innings over Back row: Patrick Collins, Travis Cox, Dallas Hipson, Nathan Van Putten
a perennial powerhouse East Nepean Middle Row: Benton St. Jean, Memphis Cox, Ian Bureau, Aiden Collins, Max Lavinge, Josh Bourgon
team. Coach Van Putten describes the Front Row: Angus Van Putten, Cameron McLean, Evan Rutley, Misha Bourdon, Zach Wilson, Isaac
action: “It was our at bat with 2 outs MacDougald Photo Submitted
and Zach Wilson hit a ball over the left
players over the weekend were Angus
fielder’s head to score two runs and
Van Putten, Evan Rutley, Memphis
give us a 4 to 2 lead. After that Angus
Cox, and Isaac MacDougald for their
Van Putten closed the game for us to Sports Energy
stellar performances at the plate and on
give us a 4 to 2 victory.”
the mound. I would also like to thank
Greater Cornwall & Areas Community Sports Newspaper
Cornwall bats came alive in their all the volunteers who helped with our
second tilt, knocking in a whopping canteen, as well as Travis Cox and Pat Would like to thank all our advertisers,
18 runs in four innings against Greely. Collings for helping me coach.”
The win put Cornwall into the semi- At 20 years old, this year is Van who have teamed up with us to share some
finals where they eventually faced off Putten’s second year as a coach,
against Brockville. “We were down and he’s been playing for 17 years. remarkable, positive local sports success
to Brockville 7-3 in the bottom of the “I’m currently a starting pitcher for stories, from all ages, young and old.
last inning when we loaded the bases Carleton University in Ottawa,” he
in dramatic fashion,” explains Van says. I first started coaching with the To Advertise in Sports Energy, please make
Putten. “We ended up coming back to Ottawa Knights organization and
tie the game 7-7 and proceeded to extra was then offered the position of head contact with our sales team today.
innings where Isaac MacDougald shut coach this year with the Majors team Gord Shaver
Brockville down to give us a chance for Cornwall. Having played in the Mike Piquette
with the bats in the bottom of the organization from the ages of 7 to
inning. Brockville ended up walking 3 14, I felt more than happy to come
of our batters, loading the bases with and give back to the community that
nobody out. Evan Rutley was hit by a helped me to get to where I am today. I
pitch to walk in the winning run to send played in the National Capital Baseball
us to the finals.” League when I was 15 and eventually

The finals provided East Nepean got recruited to play for the Carleton
with a chance to avenge their defeat to Ravens.”
Cornwall in their opening game. “The Looking to the future, Van Putten
finals were again led by tremendous hopes to take the Cornwall squad to the
pitching, with our pitchers limiting East Junior level (ages 12 to 14). “We have 613-362-8004 613-662-3654
Nepean to 5 runs,” explains Van Putten. put in a bid to host Junior Provincials gordshaver@hotmail.com mike@sportsenergynews.com
“We ended up taking the lead, losing it, for next year,” Van Putten says, “and
and then regaining the lead and closing we hope to provide the players with an “Please support our Advertisers”
out the game to win 6 to 5. Notable unforgettable baseball experience.”