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2010 Hap Walters Tournament an Unqualified Success!! 

The 2010 "Hap" Walters Tournament wrapped up on July 18th, and once again it was a rousing success.  After 16 of the best teams in Ontario faught for the right to advance to the finals during the round-robin portion of the event, 4 teams made it...the Oshawa Royals, Erindale Cardinals, Windsor Stars, and Markham Pioneers.  Then, after Oshawa and Windsor advanced from the two semi-fianl games, they met for the Championship.  In one of the best final games in tourney history, Windsor came from down 2-0 after 3 innings, to take a 5-2 lead after 6.  But the Royals made a 7th-inning rally of their own, scoring two runs...but came up short, leaving the tying and lead runs on base when the final out was recorded.  Congratulations to both teams!

The Niagara Metros have a lot of people to thank for continuing the tradition of the "Hap", beginning with the entire board of governors for the Central Ontario Major Baseball League.  Special thanks go to Dave Huctwith for convening the event, Bob Wood for handling all the finances, and Greg Cranker for his tireless efforts in preparing the fields (and for being the driving force in the continuation of the tourney).  Thanks also to Glenn Turner for convening the games at the Ninth Line North diamond, and to Steve Breitner for his similarly great work at Connorvale.  And of course, to all of the guys who worked so hard at getting the fields back in shape after the Saturday rains came, thanks!  Finally, to the Erindale players, their wives and girlfriends, and everyone involved in the Refreshment area at Ninth Line...thanks for a great job.

Hopefully, we'll see you all back at the tourney in 2011!

Sincerely, Mark Walters

G.M. Niagara Metros Baseball Club

(Tournament convenor Hap Walters Tourney 2003-2009)