Mapleton hurler on squad vying for Eastern Canadian softball title in Nova Scotia

A local youth will be part of a Kitchener-Waterloo team making a pitch to become Eastern Canadian Softball Champions later this month.

Zachary Newmaster, of Mapleton, played Drayton-Moorefield minor ball for the past five years; two years at the Atom level, two at the Squirt level and one at the Pee Wee level.

He developed an interest in pitching at the Atom level and was soon practicing the skill in his backyard, his father Richard Newmaster recalls.

“Zack has participated in many pitching clinics over the last four years and his practicing is growing in intensity from year to year,” states Richard, who coached Zach and his teammates on the Drayton-Moorefield Pee Wee boys team last season.

This season, with no Pee Wee team at the rep level close by, Zack tried out for the K-W Kolts Rep team. He made the squad and worked hard to climb from a new pitcher to the number two hurler on the team.

At the provincial eliminations tournament in Owen Sound on July 4 to 6, the Kolts’ number one pitcher took the team to the championship game and  Zack was asked to pitch that championship game. With Zack on the mound, the Kolts defeated Tavistock 14-3 in the final game.

As a result, the Kolts will represent Ontario at the Eastern Canadian Softball Championships in Nova Scotia. The Pee Wee (under 14) team punched its ticket to the Aug. 21 to 24 tournament by beating out 19 other teams at the tournament in Owen Sound.

The team is currently asking for donations to help the 14 boys going to the tournament with costs. The team is organizing bottle drives in the area over the next couple of weeks to help raise money.

Officials say they would appreciate any empty beer, wine and liquor bottles or cans. To arrange pick-up of empties or donations contact Richard at 905-302-1427.