Hawks 2-1 in tournament action

GUELPH, Ont.- The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks hosted the inaugural Laurier Invitational Tournament this weekend, and despite a reformatted tournament schedule due to weather, finished with a 2-1 record.

The championship series of the tournament was forfeited due to diamond conditions, so each team instead played between three and four exhibition games.

On Saturday the Hawks faced the Toronto U-18 Mets and took the game by a score of 6-4.
Sunday morning the squad squared off against the Windsor Selects U-18 and again came out on top by a score of 6-1.

Sunday afternoon’s game against OUA opponent Brock University previewed a pair of teams that are sure be top contenders in the league this year – 2009 saw Laurier finish with a silver medal in the OUA championship, while Brock missed the playoffs for the first time in the team’s history.

Starting on the mound for the Hawks was rookie RHP Tyler Soucie. Soucie got caught in a jam early giving up two runs, one hit, three walks, and committing an error after seeing only six batters in the first inning.

He was soon relieved by the tandem of Barwick brothers, Brett and Trent. In three and a third innings pitched Brett Barwick gave up three runs on three hits, while Trent Barwick threw one inning and gave up one run on three hits.

RHP David Canavan closed the game going three up three down, but the Hawk’s bats couldn’t finish the job and the Badgers took the contest by a final score of 6-2.

Stand out performance at the plate was seen in CF Nathan Loehle who earned two singles, a pair of RBIs, and a run, topped off with a huge homerun that sailed over the 300 foot fences at Larry Pearson in Guelph.

Bobby Lambert took the start in an up-for-grabs catcher’s position, and went 2 for 4 at the plate with a run.

The Hawks face the Oakville Royals, another team who participated in the tournament, in their final exhibition game Wednesday at Bechtel Park. Game time is 7:30 pm.