Bantam Sox drop a championship heartbreaker (8 photos)

On paper it looked like a David versus Goliath match up but someone forgot to show the Soo 341 Elks Black Sox.

At the Ontario Baseball Association Bantam A Championships on Sunday afternoon at Sinclair Yards, the Black Sox were up against a seemingly unbeatable Thunder Bay Mountain Jacks team in the provincial championship game.

The Mountain Jacks cruised through the round robin with victories of 21-9 over the Black Sox, 10-0 over Waterloo and 15-9 over Aurora before hammering Waterloo again 16-0 in a mercy shortened semi-final on Sunday morning.

The Black Sox finished the round robin at 1-2 and scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to claim a 6-1 victory over Aurora in the other semi-final.

In the final, Thunder Bay went ahead early but the Black Sox chipped away at the lead before eventually dropping a 4-3 decision in a quick and well played ball game.

Thunder Bay went on the offensive early and scored four runs in the bottom half of the first inning thanks to some hard hits and defensive miscues by the Sox. But starting pitcher Chris Buonomo and the Black Sox defense settled in from the second inning on and shut down the Mountain Jacks' powerful offense over the next five innings.

The Black Sox threatened to score in the first three innings and had runners in scoring position, but the Mountain Jacks were able to close the door defensively.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Black Sox got on the board as Kory LaFreniere singled home Michael Doan before Richard MacLennan scored on a Lucas Watson sacrifice fly to centre field.

The locals to pulled to within a run in the fifth when Ryan McDonald, who drew a two out walk, advanced to second base on a passed ball and then scored on a Buonomo single.

With their last chance in the top of the seventh inning, the Black Sox found themselves down to their final out when Corey Jackson singled to right field to keep hopes alive. Jackson advanced to second on a wild pitch but the Mountain Jacks were able to induce a ground ball to end the game.

"I'm proud of these guys beyond belief," said Black Sox head coach Jason Rooley. "I can't ask for anything else. Two good teams were out there today and one has to win and one has to lose. But every kid came to play and it was a good game to watch.

"The pitchers on this team don't let anything phase them. (Buonomo) did an outstanding job. He didn't get much help in the first inning but he stayed with it. I'm sure they wouldn't want to face him again in this situation."

Graduating players from the Bantam Sox roster include Doan, Tyler Hawdon, LaFreniere, MacLennan, McDonald and Chris Solomon.

"I've seen these kids grow and become men and better ball players the whole way through and it's a great thing," said Rooley.