The Port Lambton U15 Pirates are the 2021 OBA ‘B’ champions.
The Pirates were down 5-2 heading into the 4th inning of the championship game against the Leamington Lakers over the Labour Day weekend.
The turning point came with Drew Bunda entering the game to pitch. Bunda held the Lakers to just one run including a scoreless stretch in the 5th, 6th and 7th innings.
Port Lambton continued to chip away, setting up a dramatic finish in the bottom of the 7th inning.
A clutch game tying single with two outs was delivered by Gavin Meriano, scoring two runs to tie the game.
Bunda then delivered the final blow on a 3-2 count, lining a single to give the Pirates the walk-off win.
Dana Haggith caught up with head coach Bill Bunda for an interview. Listen, below:
This group of players also won an OBA Championship in 2015 and have been OBA finalists in 2016 and 2019.
The Pirates have added some new key players to the team since their last OBA title, however, the team has six remaining players left from the Rookie OBA Championship in 2015.
The team wanted to thank the Port Lambton community and the Port Lambton Athletic Association for their continued support during the successful run, as well as the Parks and Maintenance Manager, Frank ‘Peeler’ Johnston for ensuring the boys have a well groomed diamond at VanDamme Park in Port Lambton.
In addition, the team would also like to thank CMF Group and the St. Clair Fire Department – Port Lambton Station for their support and involvement with the victory parade on Monday, September 6.
In the featured photo above: Back row, from left, Mark Grealis (coach), Bill Bunda (head coach), Jack Martin, Ryan Bowen, Luke Chickowski, Lucas Laprise, Gavin Meriano, Jack Countryman, Tom Blundy, Vinny Hunter, Nash Lane, Garet Vandendool, Chase Belland. Front row, from left, Larry Laprise (coach), Nash Grealis, Geremia Nappi, Drew Bunda, Al Bezaire (coach) and Hudson Burgess (bat boy). The team manager is Sev Nappi.
Here are some more photos supplied by the team:
