By Eric Powers – Special to the Sydenham Current
On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, the WDSS Tartans Boys Baseball Team will host Villanova Secondary School at Kinsmen Park, 208 Argyle Avenue in Wallaceburg, for the South Western Ontario Secondary School Athletics Association (SWOSSAA) finals.
The game is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.
School officials say food and drinks will be available at the event with proceeds going towards the school’s baseball program.
Last October, the Tartans beat the Great Lakes Wolf Pack 5-2 to win the LKSSAA championship and advance.
This marks the first time ever that Tartan Baseball has qualified for a SWOSSAA final.
The Sydenham Current caught up with Linda Nethery, head coach, and players Lucas Laprise, Grade 9, Chase Sitzes, Grade 11 and Josh Powers, Grade 12, to discuss their successful season and upcoming game.
“We have a good blend of experience between the younger and older players,” Nethery said.
“A lot of that comes from our understanding of the game, good leadership, and skills that our players have developed thanks to the coaches and volunteers in our community.”
“We have a great mental game. Everyone is resilient and able to dig in when we need them to,” she added.
In terms of team strengths, Sitzes commented, “We’re a good hitting club, and our fielding is pretty good too.”
“It’s nice because the older players help you out and show you what to do,” Laprise added.
“We all get along well, we all know each other, and we’ve played with each other. We all have a really good bond,” Powers said.
In terms of the upcoming game, each member agreed that the team is “feeling confident” going into it.
“We want to make it exciting and thrilling for the fans,” Sitzes said.
“It would be awesome to have a lot of people come out, it would really give us that extra push to do even better in front of the crowd,” Powers said.
“It’s going to be one of the biggest baseball games that’s been hosted in Wallaceburg,” he added.”
The WDSS Tartans Baseball Team would also like to extend a special thanks to the Wallaceburg Kinsmen for their support with the event, and their ongoing support since the team’s establishment in 2018.
