Allenford and Tara to host OASA U14 provincial championships

Greg Cowan
Aug 26, 2020  •  November 26, 2020  •  2 minute read
The McDonnell Fuels Tara Twins will be one of eight teams competing for the OASA Under-14 Provincial Championships this weekend in Tara and Allenford. Photo supplied. Back Row : Shawn Greig, Nate Garrett, Jackson Greig, Rylan Cameron, Wyatt Pawley, Ryan Devries, Thomas Pendleton, Mackenzie Pringle, Mitch Pringle. Front Row: Austin Cook, Kody Cook, Braden McKinnon, TJ Groves, Brett McCutcheon

Live championship sports will return to Grey-Bruce this weekend in some form as the Ontario Amateur Softball Association (OASA) Under-14 Provincial Championship tournaments will be played in Allenford and Tara.

Eight teams will compete in two bubbles for the title of co-champions this year amid a host of COVID-19 restrictions.

The four teams competing for the Provincial A championship in Tara are the Elmira Heat, New Hamburg Wilmot Majors, MacDonnell Fuels Tara Twins and Drumbo.

Competing for the Provincial B championship in Allenford are the Baden Wilmot Minors, Durham Chiefs, Nikason Construction Tara Twins and St. George Spartans.

Both circuits will play round-robin games Saturday through Sunday with the top two seeds in each group competing for the championships Sunday at 2 p.m.

Local fastpitch has been operating in some areas since June with limited practices, two coaches and eight players allowed on the field at one time and parents in the outfield.

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Exhibition games and scrimmages have been a part of that operation and have expanded since Ontario moved into Phase 3 of the province’s reopening plan.

For the weekend’s tournament, 50 people are allowed at the diamond who are directly involved in the game and 100 people total.

Local tournament organizers have set up the four-team bubbles in Allenford and Tara. Teams in each bubble will not cross paths, hence the co-champions being crowned this summer.

Spectators will be asked to stay in the marked-off area beyond the outfield fence to view the game where the six-foot spacing will be regulated.

A host of COVID-19 protocols have been introduced for the tournament, including restricting the sale of sunflower seeds and chewing gum, extended dugouts to enhance spacing, and no opening ceremony.

On the diamond, not much will change with the exception of infielders and umpires wearing masks.

All of the listed protocols expected to be followed have been handed down in the OASA Addendum to Host Agreement due to COVID-19 Protocols document.

Athletes, coaches and umpires will be asked COVID-19 screening questions the day-of the games.

A concession stand will be available offering pre-packaged food.

The tournament kicks off Saturday at 10 a.m. in both Tara and Allenford. The Nikason Construction Tara Twins will take on Durham to open the tournament in Allenford while Drumbo and Elmira square off in Tara.

The MacDonnell Fuels Tara Twins will play a doubleheader Saturday afternoon starting at 12:30 p.m. against New Hamburg and then Drumbo.