CJ Directory won last weekend’s Icebreaker for the bantam/midget baseball league, taking the final with a solid defense.
“It was a very defensive game,” CJ Directory coach and bantam/midget director Ray Schwmeler said.
The tournament featured four teams, CJ Directory, Cariboo Ford, Teal Roofing and Cariboo Pulp, playing in a round robin format, with the best two teams facing off in the final.
CJ Directory, Cariboo Ford and Teal Roofing each came out of round robin play with a 2-1 record, forcing the decision to goal differences. Cariboo Ford, at +14, and CJ Directory, at +11, made the finals, leaving Teal Roofing and Cariboo Pulp to fight it out for third and fourth.
Teal Roofing beat Cariboo Pulp to claim third.
CJ Directory and Cariboo Ford took to the diamond for the final, ending in a 5-1 win for CJ.
“It was a nail biter,” Schwemler said.
A game like that can turn around on you in one inning.”
Schwemler credited the depth of his pitching talent with much of the win. Cariboo Ford had only two hits in the game, with a mistake in the outfield allowing their only run.
Schwemler was happy with the weather for the tournament, having had early to call off the skills competition due to rain. The games only suffered a couple light showers, allowing the tournament to continue as scheduled.
Though the weather was not a factor, absences and injuries did have a large impact on the teams, with players playing injured and teams lending opponents players to allow games to take place.
“There were lots of injuries,” Schwemler said.
“I suspect at the end of the year the results will be different.”
The injuries, however, made for some interesting plays, including Marshall Browne batting in a cast, and getting a couple hits on base.
“It was quite the highlight,” Schwemler said.
