Eric Healey was the most valuable player as the Conception Bay Central Junior Canadians claimed the provincial intermediate fastpitch championship by going 4-0 in the Softball NL Molson tourney, which concluded Sunday at Lions Park in St. John’s.
Healey pitched in all four of his team’s games, winning three of them, including a 2-0 shutout of Placentia’s Lafontaine Club in the final.
In the latter, Healey allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out 15 batters. He also drove in one of his team’s run in a two-run fifth inning.
Overall, as a pitcher, Healey had a total of 40 strikeouts while allowing only eight hits and two walks over 22.2 innings in the tournament.
Lafontaine had entered the game with a 3-0 record, including a 5-1 win over Sportscraft Waterford Valley in the semifinal round.
In the other semifinal the Junior Canadians downed the U16 Selects 9-5.
Members of the championship team include Liam Costello, Justin Doyle, Coady Furey, Eric Healey, Shane Healey, DJ Lake, Patrick O'Leary, Jordan Penney, Ryan Petten, Mitchel Whelan, Jacob Whittle and coach Kyle Ezekiel.
Brent Hatfield was the tourney’s top batter with a .545 average (6-for-11), while his teammate, Gerard O'Reilly, was named the most sportsmanlike player.
