The Decoy Rebels of Dryden topped the seven-team field at the annual Pinewood Bears fastball tournament over the weekend.
The Rebels, who went 1-1-1 in pool play, pulled out big wins against the Stratton Bobcats in the ‘A’ semi-final and Rainy River District Fastball League leading-Rainy River Royals, 5-1 in the final Sunday.
Stratton beat host Pinewood, 7-6, in the ‘B’ final (Pinewood had lost 7-4 to Rainy River in the other ‘A’ semi-final).
Teams competing in the Rebels’ pool were Sight and Sound, Big Island and Barwick.
Rainy River and Pinewood finished 2-0 in their pool and Stratton was 0-2. The Bulldogs were originally the eighth team entered but pulled out.
“Everything went well,” said Bears captain and tourney co-organizer Kyle Langlais. “A lot of people came out to watch us. That was the key thing. That every one had a good time.”
The next–and last–in-house tournament is set for Rainy River, Aug. 9-11. So far, eight local teams have signed up.
In league play, the RRDFL’s regular season wraps up tonight with three games. Sight and Sound will meet the Bulldogs in an all-local match while Pinewood visits Barwick and Big Grassy is in Rainy River.
Playoffs unofficially get underway Thursday when last-place Big Grassy (2-13) meets eighth-ranked Stratton in a one-game playoff to see who’ll qualify for the double-knockout tournament starting next one week from today.
The top four teams (Rainy River, Hyatt’s Contracting, Barwick and Pinewood) are already set.