That’s a common theme when it comes to success in sports and it was certainly the case for the Corner Brook Barons over the weekend.
The Barons shaded Stafford’s Welding Gander Pilots 3-2 in the championship final at the provincial senior B baseball championship Sunday at Jubilee Field in Corner Brook.
Steve Hynes, one of the guys expected to drive in runs for the Barons, delivered in spades as he claimed the Most Valuable Player award driving in 11 runs, including seven RBIs in a 4-for-4 performance against the Pilots in an 11-6 victory during the double round-robin portion of the three-team tournament.
His stat line for the win against the Pilots included a grand slam, a two-run shot and a brace of doubles, with one of those two-baggers bringing a run across home plate.
Hynes also helped the pitching staff by tossing the win in a 14-1 win over the Mount Pearl Blazers in a game called off after five innings due to the tournament mercy rule.
Hynes thought his team played well as a group and came up with some key plays to earn the right to tangle with the mighty St. John’s Capitals in the provincial senior A baseball final that will get underway in Corner Brook in two weeks.
“We showed a lot of heart and anyone that was on the field wanted to be there,” Hynes said. “The nine or 10 guys on the field all wanted to be there and they showed it because they gave 100 per cent.”
He expected a close showdown in the final because both teams had their aces on the hill — lefty Matt Colbourne for the Barons and A. J. Whiffen for the Pilots.
“We expected it to be low scoring. We didn’t expect many hits or many runs. We knew it was going to be a pitcher’s duel,” Hynes said.
Hynes is a seasoned veteran with the Barons. He has been there for some of the rough times, but he’s thinking this year’s edition of the Barons can match up well with the Capitals when he looks at the solid defence and pitching staff his squad boasts heading into the series.
He acknowledged that the Caps have two warriors leading the pitching staff, namely Pasadena natives Scott Goosney and Greg Barry, but he’s confident it will be a great series with his team committed to dethroning the defending champions.
“They’re not going to surprise us with anything. They don’t have anything that’s too overpowering or anything too intimidating,” he said.
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