The Tecumseh Rangers 11U team turned heads this past weekend at the Essex Funfest Tournament, posting a strong 3-1 record and showcasing their pitching depth, aggressive base running, and timely hitting.
The Rangers opened the tournament Friday evening with a 6-2 win over the Owen Sound Jr. Baysox. Strong pitching from Logan P and Owen L kept the Baysox bats in check, while Ryan S and Luca B sparked a four-run fifth inning to seal the win. Owen’s dominant relief performance included eight strikeouts and no walks across 4.2 innings. Ryan and Owen each notched two hits, and the team swiped six bags in a complete team effort.
On Saturday, Tecumseh continued their winning ways with a pair of convincing victories. First, they blanked the Chatham Diamonds 6-0 behind a combined shutout from Lake M and Thomas D. Lake struck out nine over 5.1 innings, and Joe Joe G led the offence from the nine-hole, driving in two runs. The defence was flawless behind them, not committing a single error.
Later that day, the Rangers overpowered Turtle Club Selects 9-2. A three-run first inning set the tone, and Thomas D’s inside-the-park home run in the second helped build a six-run cushion. Thomas tossed five innings of one-hit ball, while Ryan S closed the door with a scoreless final frame. Ryan also had a multi-hit game and joined Luke P and Gavin F in wreaking havoc on the basepaths with 10 team steals.
Despite their strong start, the Rangers’ run ended in Sunday’s semi-final with an 8-4 loss to the Leamington Lakers. Tecumseh battled back to tie the game 4-4 in the third behind key hits from Lake M and Ryan S, but Leamington answered in the fourth with four runs to pull away. Luca B struck out six in relief, and the Rangers showed grit throughout.
Overall, it was a weekend filled with highlights, growth, and promise. The Tecumseh Rangers 11U team continues to prove they can compete with the best, and they’ll carry valuable experience and momentum into the second half of their season.