Chadwick Cameron got the Reds off to a great start at the 2022 Provincial Elimination Tournament, pitching Thornhill to a 3-1 Friday afternoon win against the Strathroy Royals. It was the second straight win against the Royals in the Ontario playdowns, after the Reds also beat Strathroy in the last edition of the Championship Tournament- 7-2. Cameron fired seven innings, allowing just the one earned run on a solo shot to lead off the Royals fourth. The Reds ace allowed just three hits, while striking out five and walking none.
Game two saw the Reds waste an excellent effort from LHP Mike Bannon, who was the tough luck loser after surrendering three unearned runs with two out in the second inning, falling to the Burlington Brants 3-2. In the lefthander's first Elims start for the Reds, he scattered four hits, striking out nine and walking two who did not figure in the scoring. Dylan Oborne was the only Red with a two hit game.
In the first game facing elimination, the Reds sent Mack Major to the hill against a tough Ilderton Riverhawks squad. Having seen the Riverhawks just two weeks previous, and falling at the Hap Walters Tournament 6-2, Thornhill bounced back and held on for a round three win 5-4 - sending the London area club home. Major led 5-2 through six, after allowing two runs early(one earned), giving up just three hits, walking none and fanning three. Jaz Shergill battled through a tough seventh and a scrappy Riverhawk team that wouldn't go away to record a save, forcing an infield pop up to strand the tying and go ahead runs at second and third base. Kravice Batts had three hits, RBI and a steal to pace the offense, and both Argenis Paz and Matthew Blair-Brown had two hits in the win. Blair-Brown tripled and scored the game winning run for the Reds.
Game four saw the Reds falter on the defensive side of the field, and lose to league rival Newmarket 9-7. Danny Garcia worked the first four, allowing five runs(three earned) on four hits, he walked two and struck out eight. Cory Levy took the loss after he was unable to get out of the fifth inning, allowing three earned runs while retiring just two Hawks. Michael Cecchetto led the way with the bats, smacking three hits in the loss, and both Argenis Paz and Dylan Oborne finished off a good weekend with two more base knocks.
The Reds will now look to capture the GTBL championship upcoming at the end of August in Thornhill.