
HALDIMAND—The U15 Haldimand Bulls Fastball team have notched an impressive mark on their ledger, going undefeated at the annual ORSA (Ontario Rural Softball Association) tournament, July 19-21, 2024.
Playing four games total, the tournament culminated in a 7-5 victory over the Tara Twins in the finals on Sunday, July 21 in New Hamburg, where the team brought home a championship banner to fly proudly in Haldimand County.
Sacha Marcoux, father to player Linken Marcoux and coach of the nearby Jarvis Minor Ball Team, which shares many members with the Bulls rep team, praised the team’s efforts in the tournament.
Marcoux said it was the combination of determination and “quality practices,” paired with a great team attitude that resulted in “maximum effort, consistent quality pitching, and batting their best games.”
He said the team’s coaches – Brad Devins, Andrew Phibbs, Allan Phibbs, and Dean Atkinson – focused on building advanced fundamentals, in-game communication, understanding the best play, along with fine-tuning the hitting and pitching skills to push the team over the finish line.
Like all champions, chemistry played a large role in achieving success both on and off the field.
“The team communicated clearly and consistently while cheering each other on,” said Marcoux.
He said that instead of going to Disneyland to celebrate their success, the team is instead focused on taking their momentous victory and building on it for an even more successful 2025 season, with the goal of being a strong contender in the eastern and/or Canadian tournaments next year.
He wished a special thanks to the coaches and support staff: “Allan and Shannon Phibbs; Andrew and Starr Phibbs; Matt and Casie Hartwick; Dean and Trish Atkinson; and Brad Devins. Thanks to the team parents and caretakers too.”
He concluded, “Let’s go Haldimand Bulls!”